Obituary of Edgar Willmar Manz

Please click here to view the livestream of the service

Our Saviour Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.  Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Edgar Willmar Manz.

Edgar was given life by his creator and was born on December 16, 1937, the child of Otto Manz and Karoline (Bauer), in Neu Zadowa, Bukovina, Romania.  After moving across several countries, his parents, along with their children Ossie, Gunde, Edgar, Edda and Adolf, settled in Neukirchen, Germany, where Edgar spent his childhood, and where he started his apprenticeship in bricklaying and masonry.  He moved to Regina, Saskatchewan in 1955 with his cousin, Fred Oberlander, and the rest of the family soon followed.

In Regina, Edgar met his love, Aimee, and after a short courtship, they got married on December 30, 1967.  They were blessed with two children, Ingrid (husband,Stacy Barr and children, Dieter and Arden) and Ruben (wife, Katherine Cheah and children, Eden and Avi).

Edgar was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and he cherished his relationships with his family.  He especially enjoyed his bond with his grandchildren, and they will miss all the special times they were able to spend with him.  Eden: “I love the beautiful Bavarian playhouse that Opa built for us, and I’ll always remember him when I see it. Dieter: “Opa was the first person to take me fishing, and I have loved fishing ever since!” Avi: “Opa always made special food for me because of my allergies, like Sülze, Liverwurst and pancakes!” Arden: “Opa always made me delicious German cakes!”

Edgar’s drive for perfection, eye for detail and incredible work ethic led him to succeed as a stonemason and bricklayer.  He served as the Chairperson of the Regina Masonry Contractors Association for 10 years, and examples of his work can be found all over Regina and South Saskatchewan. The Conexus Arts Centre, Regina General Hospital, SGI, SaskPower, many schools and churches are only a few of the buildings that he laid his hands on.  Even after he retired, he continued to work on projects all over, building fireplaces, patios, et cetera, for friends and family.

Hunting and fishing were two of his passions, and he was a founding member of the Regina German Club, and member of the Hunting and Fishing Club (Jagd-und Fischverein Waidmanns Lust), as well as its President for many years.  His family and friends share many special memories of fishing, hunting trips, camping and hiking with him.  He was also able to share this love of the outdoors through his involvement in the Scouting Movement as a Cub Scout Leader.

Having too much free time was not something that Edgar relished.  He filled almost every waking moment doing something useful, whether it was working on a renovation project, helping someone, doing wood carvings, sharing stories about his childhood in Europe during the war, or baking incredible nine-layered Prinzregenten Tortes and other delicious creations.  He did however, enjoy a good game of Sudoku, which did occasionally annoy Aimee!  Edgar had a great sense of humour and loved to laugh.  His whole family has wonderful memories of sitting around the dining table, exchanging jokes.  The stories of some of the pranks he pulled are legendary!

Edgar was a true believer, and dedicated his life to serving God.  He was heavily involved in church life at Mount Olive Lutheran Church.  He was an Elder, served on the Property Committee, made hundreds of home visits and even more phone calls to parishioners who were shut ins, and helped with the Youth Group and with countless other projects and tasks. He truly embodied the Christian principles of loving your neighbour, generosity, integrity, kindness and spreading the word of God.  Edgar was an incredibly principled man, and even if his views were not popular or mainstream, he was unwavering in his beliefs. 

Edgar was predeceased by his parents and his youngest brother, Adolf Manz.

We have lost a truly great man, but we choose not to focus on the fact that he has left this earthly realm.  Instead, our thoughts are on the magnificent life that he led, the example that he has set for us all, and the comforting fact that he in now at peace with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Funeral Service will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2015 4^th Avenue North, Regina, SK, on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.  To view the livestream of the service please click on the link above on the day of the service. Interment in Riverside Memorial Park.