Remembering our past – Gus & Ruth Wahl

Times Contributor

 

Many of you may know Gus and Ruth Wahl through their involvement with the Good Food Box, which is the local name for Calgary’s Community Kitchen, as well as School Fuel, which ensures students  are fed on school days. They are very active in Hope Community Covenant Church and it’s Outreach Program.

Gus was born in 1933, in a part of Germany that is now part of Poland. He moved from Germany to Redcliff, Alberta in 1948, with his family, then moved to Strathmore in 1952. 

One of his first employers was Andrew Klaiber, grandfather of Bruce, Grant and Dean Klaiber. Ruth was born in Cluny in 1934, but grew up in Gleichen. They met at a Calgary church, and were married in 1957. This marriage has produced four sons and a daughter, who in turn have given them 13 grandchildren.

Gus attended SAIT, where he graduated in 1956 as a journeyman carpenter. He spent most of his life in the construction industry, building schools, churches and office towers, around the City of Calgary. Many of the buildings he helped to build, like The Highlander Hotel on 16th Avenue NW, have been replaced in recent years. 

Ruth graduated as a nurse from the old Calgary General Hospital in 1957. After her marriage she stayed home to bring up their family. They lived in the Briar Hill area of Northwest Calgary until 1995, when they moved to Rosebud. 

Gus and Ruth purchased, then revamped an old house there, which became The Roses and Lace Teahouse. This was a great experience – Ruth did the baking, whilst Gus served the tea and did everything else! In 2002, they retired to Strathmore where their eldest son and family live. 

Now that Gus is retired he has a new hobby – building cedar strip canoes. He has built six canoes to date, and has another two under construction. Recently he worked with the Orkney 4-H Club, in Drumheller. 

They built  a canoe which was then filled with food for the local Food Bank. It was auctioned off and raised more than $3,000. Encana matched this amount, and these proceeds were also used to purchase food for The Drumheller Food Bank.

Earlier this month, there was an article in the Strathmore Times regarding Philip Wahl, their grandson. He received an award for being the 2011 Southern Alberta top Air Cadet. He is the fourth grandchild to receive various honours for their participation with 903 Squadron Air Cadets, here in Strathmore. A fifth grandchild is currently an Air Cadet in the same squadron.

When asked what changes they had seen in this area, they replied, “we rather liked the old small town atmosphere, that Strathmore represented. But, this is progress, we guess.”