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- (Research):O'KRAFKA, Alfred Ernest Alfred passed away peacefully at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness, on Monday, June 11, 2012 at the age of 91. Alfred was born at his Granny Shepherd's home in Hespeler on June 6, 1921. He was raised on the family farm on Maple Grove Road and attended Maple Grove Public School. He was a Veteran of World War II attaining the rank of Flying Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following the war he attended Lowell Textile Institute in Lowell, Massachusetts and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering. Upon returning to Canada he was employed by Dominion Woolens in Hespeler, Templon in Drummondville, QC and then by Spinrite Yarns & Dyers in Listowel. He enjoyed 24 years of retirement in his garden doing what he loved to do best - puttering. He was the loving husband and best friend of Grace (Lambke) O'Krafka, his wife of nearly 54 years. Dear father of Heather (Paul) de Man, Heidi (Robert) Presley, Harold O'Krafka and daughter-in-law Carolyn. Much loved grandpa of Brigitte and Margot de Man, Rebecca Presley and Jake and Meg O'Krafka. Fondly remembered by sisters-in-law Louise O'Krafka, Marie Lambke, Dorothy Priebe and Mary Schwartzentruber, by brothers-in-law Herman Neff, Howard Lambke, Clifford Lambke, and Harold Lambke and by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Otto and Lillian (Shepherd) O'Krafka, his parents-in-law Norman and Elsie (Rieck) Lambke, his son David Alfred O'Krafka in infancy, his grand-daughter Pauline Agaath de Man in infancy, his sister Isobel Neff, and his brother Lennard O'Krafka. He was also predeceased by sisters-in-law Gladys Caron, Gladys Lambke, Anne Lambke, Jean Lambke, Doris Lambke, Irene Wilson, and Ruth Campbell and by brothers-in-law Daniel Priebe, Walter Lambke, Harold Wilson, Reginald Campbell, Paul Schwartzentruber and Jack Lambke. His family would like to thank the staff at Cambridge Memorial Hospital for the kind and loving care they provided to Alfred. Alfred's family will welcome family and friends at the Lounsbury Funeral Home, 1766 Franklin Blvd., Cambridge on Friday, June 15th from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at Wanner Mennonite Church, 1725 Beaverdale Rd., Cambridge, on Saturday, June 16th at 3 p.m. Interment to follow at Wanner Mennonite Church Cemetery. Those who wish, may make a memorial donation to the Mennonite Central Committee (Ontario). Condolences/donations/directions www.lounsburyfuneralhome.com (519) 658-9366
War helped Alfred O'Krafka find peace
Alfred O'Krafka of Cambridge
Alfred O'Krafka had always been a man of great principle so when the call went out for young men to enlist during the Second World War, he responded.
His son, Harold O'Krafka said the church he had attended since childhood, historic Wanner Mennonite Church, on Beaverdale Road in Cambridge offered him the chance to avoid service. It was an alternative he was not comfortable accepting.
"Technically, he wasn't a Mennonite," said Harold. "He said he wasn't a Christian or a Mennonite and he didn't feel the conviction of a conscientious objector."
So off he went, joining up in 1942 and serving as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force. By 1945 Alfred had risen to the rank of Flying Officer and was recognized as a skilled navigator. Just as was to be deployed to the Pacific, the war ended and he returned home to Cambridge.
What had happened to Alfred while serving overseas had a deep impact on the young man, particularly during a bout of pneumonia when he was restricted to hospital. It was during those long hours of recovery that Alfred took to reading the little bible provided in all servicemen's kit bags.
It must have been something about having the time to really delve into the message the bible held because he changed his attitude about war, about any armed conflict.
"When he came back, he embraced pacifism," said Harold.
Actually, pacifism suited Alfred much better. He was a quiet, gentle man who never got angry, never raised his voice.
In a eulogy son-in-law, Paul de Man, said "Dad was a listener more than he was a talker and not prone to giving unsolicited advice….when he talked, we all listened." Though he added, the advice proffered tended to be simple and to the point such as "when in deep water keep your mouth shut."
The eldest of three, Alfred was born in Hespeler, in the home of his Granny Shepherd, a well known local midwife. When he was four, the family moved to a hobby farm near Beaverdale, where his father raised chickens and made a bit of money selling farm products while working in a foundry during the winter.
After the war, Alfred completed a textile engineering program at Michigan's Lowell Textile Institute where he was entered into the scholastic honour roll society for high academic achievement. Even in the air force, his exit interview documented Alfred's outstanding ability to learn and his mechanical ability. Despite his many gifts, Alfred was a modest man.
"He was quiet and unassuming," recalled Harold. "He was a wallflower….but thoughtful."
At 37, Alfred finally married and the long standing family joke was that "he couldn't run anymore" said Harold.
Alfred was 14 years older than his beloved, Grace Lambke, someone he had known all his life.
After graduating from university, Alfred had landed a cloth designer job at Dominion Woolens in Hespeler. When the plant closed seven years later he moved to Drummondville, Que., where he got a job at a spinning mill. A year later, he brought his new bride to his Quebec home and in 1959 they had the first of four children, Heather.
In 1961, tragedy hit. Their second child, David was born but died at birth, devastating the couple. Living in a province where they didn't speak the language it was doubly hard to deal with their loss, to find the support they needed.
That same year, the family moved to Listowel when Alfred was hired by Spinrite Yarns & Dyers and put in charge of the spinning department. While living in this small rural community, the couple had two more children: Heidi and Harold.
While in Listowel, the couple was instrumental in starting Listowel Mennonite Church and given Alfred was never one to do things in half measures, he was not only a church founder but also a leader and enthusiastic volunteer, including custodial duties.
After working for 26 years at Spinrite, Alfred retired and finally had time to pursue his passion: gardening. The couple returned to Hespeler in 1988.
"He loved his garden," said Harold. "He never went anywhere without a clipping of this plant or that plant. And every plant had a history." There were the roses, hollyhocks and irises from his grandmother's garden, elderberry bushes from roadside excursions and rhubarb from his parent's garden. Every clipping had a story, something that connected him to his past.
The plants have become "treasured heirlooms" said Paul. "He loved to tend and nurture."
His wife Grace also delivered a eulogy and said her husband was delighted after moving to their retirement facility and discovering they were on the ground floor.
"He enjoyed so much developing the flower beds," she said. That was an understatement. According to Harold, his father created a long and lush garden bed that snaked far from their apartment. Grace said "Alf had a real tenderness toward his plants."
Alfred's mantra had always been "give it time." If a plant seemed on the throws of death, he just assured his wife all would be well if they gave it enough time.
Paul also remembered his father-in-law as a disciplined man who used his words carefully. "He was a man very much at peace with himself and the world around him."
Alfred had been a man who found and embraced pacifism then found peace with a spade in his hand and basket filled with roots and shoots.
vhill@therecord.com
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