Wilhelm "Willy" Wenisch

   It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Willy Wenisch on August 17, 2020 only three days before his 85^th birthday.

   Willy was born in Schwabhausen, Germany on August 20, 1935 to parents, Anna and Josef.  In 1951, he moved to Canada with his parents and brother, Joe where they worked on the family farm together.  Willy relocated to the Crowsnest Pass in the mid-1950s where he gained employment as a labourer with the Burmis Lumber Company.  He was soon promoted to heavy equipment operator, notably their D6 CAT dozer.  Also around this time, Willy won the heart of a lovely young lady, Marie Hill.  The happy couple married on August 24, 1957 and went on to be blessed with two wonderful children, Sheila and Michael.

   Willy and Marie owned and operated Wenisch Contracting Ltd., a successful logging business with various pieces of heavy equipment that was incorporated on October 20, 1969.  Willy had an incredible work ethic and was renowned for his skill as a dozer operator.  Building roads was his specialty and he left his mark on many places in the area such as the mines at Coleman Collieries and Tent Mountain.  Although logging was his passion, after Marie passed away in 2009, Willy transitioned his business to excavating, etcetera and it remains successful to this day thanks to the skills he passed on to his son, Michael and his grandson, Chad.  He taught them to work as a team and how to accomplish every endeavour. 

   Willy was a character – he worked hard and, in his younger years, played hard, too.  There are many stories to be told about him and they all include lots of laughs and good times.  Willy loved horses – at one time owning twenty-five mini horses with Sheila, and he raised various kinds of exotic birds when he held an odd and unusual bird license.  He was a very generous man who would lend anything to anyone and he was always ready to lend a helping hand.  Willy did things his way and made no apologies for being himself.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.        

   Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life is his daughter, Sheila (Jerry) Kumiszczo of Hillcrest AB; his son, Michael (Aline) Wenisch of Cowley AB; his grandchildren, Dakoda (Dan) Kuftinoff, Derrek (Alex) Wenisch, Kyla (Robbie) Reid, Chad Kumiszczo, Nicholle (Dustin) Auger, Courtney (Darren) Furtado and Shantele Wenisch; his great grandchildren, Drake, Mikka and Mila; as well as his extended family and a multitude of friends.

   He was predeceased by his wife, Marie Wenisch in 2009; his father, Josef in 1979; his mother, Anna (Shotz) in 1980; and his brother, Joe in 1984.

   A Private Service will be held at Fantin’s Funeral Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be gratefully accepted by the Alzheimer’s Society (#306, 10430 – 61 Ave. Edmonton, AB T6H 2J3, or www.alzheimer.ca), or the Kidney Foundation (6007 – 1A St. SW Calgary, AB T2H 0G5, or www.kidney.ca).  Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements.

(403) 562-8555