Obituary for Rudi Cornelius Unrau
Rudi Cornelius Unrau
1941-2021
Rudi Cornelius Unrau of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 9th, 2021 at the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary, AB.
Rudi leaves behind him his three children, Randi, Tamara (Rick), and Robyn; four grandchildren, Joey (Lizzie), Katelyn (DJ), Jason, and Carter; one great-grandchild, Jeremiah, and two sisters, Rosie and Marilyn. Rudi was predeceased by his wife, Jean Unrau; his parents, Jake and Maria Unrau; one brother, Norman, and one sister, Ruby.
Rudi was born in Steinbach, MB on May 8th, 1941. In his younger years and teens his two great loves were music and horses, especially playing the guitar and singing with his sister Marilyn. He soon moved to Winnipeg, MB to work in heating and air conditioning – this was to be his life-long work until he retired in 2005.
Rudi met Jean Unrau in 1961 and they married in 1962. By late 1963, they had had their first child, Randi. They continued to live in Winnipeg until after Tami was born in 1966, then Robyn in 1970, eventually moving to a small acreage near to New Bothwell, MB, where Rudi built the Crown Valley General Store in the town, near to the school and cheese factory.
The General Store became a hub for the town, where Jean worked full time, as well as employing many others from the community, including Shirl Neufeld, Jean’s best friend.
The store was not a huge money-maker, however, and Rudi started working overseas in Baghdad, Iraq for many years, still in the air conditioning business, to help support the family. This was hard on the family unit though, and eventually the family decided to sell the store, and they purchased the Village Inn & Service on Highway 59 near to Ile des Chenes, MB, so that Rudi could discontinue working overseas. The Village Inn employed many people from the community as well, including long-time family friends Ellie and Ed Loewen, and their daughter Sheila.
During these years Rudi had numerous hobbies outside of work, including buying and selling cars, building, and running the New Bothwell Speedway, as well as racing his two go-carts there. He also had a souped-up 59 Chevy which he drag-raced at the Gimli Speedway.
Rudi was a jokester, a prankster, and loved to laugh. Many remember him for the fun times they had together, such as evening bar-b-cues, or evenings out at the Beefeater Steakhouse in Winnipeg.
Rudi retired the same year that his wife, Jean Unrau, passed away from cancer in 2005. Jean’s battle with cancer was long and difficult on the family and took its toll on Rudi as well. After her death, Rudi lost some of his joie de vivre, but always had fond words to reminisce about his old friends.
Some of Rudi’s greatest passions were Hockey Night in Canada (he shoots, he scores!!!!!), the Toronto Blue Jays, snowmobiling and dirt biking when he was younger, traveling to warm spots in the winter with the family, and just sharing food with family and friends.
Rudi’s death was very sudden and was simply a tragedy for Tami and Robyn. They had hoped for many more years with him in their company. Rudi contracted Covid-19 while in the hospital for a bad fall he taken a few weeks earlier and Tami especially had done an excellent job ensuring that Rudi was kept safe from the virus until he was hospitalized.
When Rudi was told he had Covid-19, he was strong, accepting, and very trusting of the process. He had faith in God through the entire journey that His will was being done and that his time to be reunited with God, Jean, his parents, and old friends had come.
Cremation has now taken place at Choice Memorial in Calgary, AB. A private family steak dinner in honour of our dad and Papa will take place at Tami and Rick’s home once Covid restrictions have loosened.
Dad, and Papa, we miss you like crazy already, and we are so sad that you were taken so suddenly. We love you dearly. Thank you to Dr. Libin for his attentive care to our father while he had Covid, and to the entire Unit 64 that kept Rudi comfortable and cared for to his final moments.
Thank you to the outpouring of love and affection we have received from all of our friends and family these past few days. May God be with everyone.
The Sheldon Chumir Health Centre Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic in Calgary, AB took excellent care of Rudi the last years of his life and if anyone is looking to make a donation in Rudi’s name, in lieu of flowers, this would be an excellent choice. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Rudi, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
1941-2021
Rudi Cornelius Unrau of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 9th, 2021 at the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary, AB.
Rudi leaves behind him his three children, Randi, Tamara (Rick), and Robyn; four grandchildren, Joey (Lizzie), Katelyn (DJ), Jason, and Carter; one great-grandchild, Jeremiah, and two sisters, Rosie and Marilyn. Rudi was predeceased by his wife, Jean Unrau; his parents, Jake and Maria Unrau; one brother, Norman, and one sister, Ruby.
Rudi was born in Steinbach, MB on May 8th, 1941. In his younger years and teens his two great loves were music and horses, especially playing the guitar and singing with his sister Marilyn. He soon moved to Winnipeg, MB to work in heating and air conditioning – this was to be his life-long work until he retired in 2005.
Rudi met Jean Unrau in 1961 and they married in 1962. By late 1963, they had had their first child, Randi. They continued to live in Winnipeg until after Tami was born in 1966, then Robyn in 1970, eventually moving to a small acreage near to New Bothwell, MB, where Rudi built the Crown Valley General Store in the town, near to the school and cheese factory.
The General Store became a hub for the town, where Jean worked full time, as well as employing many others from the community, including Shirl Neufeld, Jean’s best friend.
The store was not a huge money-maker, however, and Rudi started working overseas in Baghdad, Iraq for many years, still in the air conditioning business, to help support the family. This was hard on the family unit though, and eventually the family decided to sell the store, and they purchased the Village Inn & Service on Highway 59 near to Ile des Chenes, MB, so that Rudi could discontinue working overseas. The Village Inn employed many people from the community as well, including long-time family friends Ellie and Ed Loewen, and their daughter Sheila.
During these years Rudi had numerous hobbies outside of work, including buying and selling cars, building, and running the New Bothwell Speedway, as well as racing his two go-carts there. He also had a souped-up 59 Chevy which he drag-raced at the Gimli Speedway.
Rudi was a jokester, a prankster, and loved to laugh. Many remember him for the fun times they had together, such as evening bar-b-cues, or evenings out at the Beefeater Steakhouse in Winnipeg.
Rudi retired the same year that his wife, Jean Unrau, passed away from cancer in 2005. Jean’s battle with cancer was long and difficult on the family and took its toll on Rudi as well. After her death, Rudi lost some of his joie de vivre, but always had fond words to reminisce about his old friends.
Some of Rudi’s greatest passions were Hockey Night in Canada (he shoots, he scores!!!!!), the Toronto Blue Jays, snowmobiling and dirt biking when he was younger, traveling to warm spots in the winter with the family, and just sharing food with family and friends.
Rudi’s death was very sudden and was simply a tragedy for Tami and Robyn. They had hoped for many more years with him in their company. Rudi contracted Covid-19 while in the hospital for a bad fall he taken a few weeks earlier and Tami especially had done an excellent job ensuring that Rudi was kept safe from the virus until he was hospitalized.
When Rudi was told he had Covid-19, he was strong, accepting, and very trusting of the process. He had faith in God through the entire journey that His will was being done and that his time to be reunited with God, Jean, his parents, and old friends had come.
Cremation has now taken place at Choice Memorial in Calgary, AB. A private family steak dinner in honour of our dad and Papa will take place at Tami and Rick’s home once Covid restrictions have loosened.
Dad, and Papa, we miss you like crazy already, and we are so sad that you were taken so suddenly. We love you dearly. Thank you to Dr. Libin for his attentive care to our father while he had Covid, and to the entire Unit 64 that kept Rudi comfortable and cared for to his final moments.
Thank you to the outpouring of love and affection we have received from all of our friends and family these past few days. May God be with everyone.
The Sheldon Chumir Health Centre Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic in Calgary, AB took excellent care of Rudi the last years of his life and if anyone is looking to make a donation in Rudi’s name, in lieu of flowers, this would be an excellent choice. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Rudi, please visit www.choicememorial.com.