Gerd KAEFER
December 31, 1938 -
June 17, 2004
A STRONG VOICE
IS SILENT NOW
Gerd was born in Hamburg, Germany where he trained to be a precision mechanist. He came to Canada when he was 19 and attended UBC and graduated with a degree in Education. He was a small child during the Second World War and was able to help students see war through a child鈥檚 eyes. He was a strong supporter of non-violent solutions to conflicts. He taught elementary school in Courtenay and Campbell River and was a compassionate, strong, fun-loving teacher admired by his colleagues, his students and their parents. He was president of the Courtenay Teachers鈥� Association and with Gay Davies, the first Co-ordinator for the Resource Centre in the district.
Gerd loved the wilderness and the special beauty of Canada. He was a proud Canadian. Gerd鈥檚 enthusiasm for life, love of good music and dance, and wonderful sense of humour will be remembered by all who loved him. He worked hard for the North Island Hot Jazz Society and served as President for several years.
He is survived by his loving wife, Florence; 2 sons: Glenn and Ian; and his grandsons: Owen and Noah; his brother Rainer (Renata); and cousins: Jurgen Kaefer (Gonda Andrea), and Max Kaefer (Pat), Tanya and Nadine.
A gathering to honour Gerd鈥檚 life will be held Saturday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kaefer residence at 1519 Dingwall Rd., Courtenay. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation (Multiple Myeloma Research), Ste. 200, 601 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4C2
Auf Wiedersehen