Obituary of Henry John Scheunhage

February 17, 1942 – Amsterdam, Netherlands

June 2, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

 

When we think of our dad, we know the facts:

 

Henry (Hank) Scheunhage, beloved husband of Thelma Scheunhage (nee Lizotte) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2023, at the age of 81 years.

 

He was born in Amsterdam during the war.  At age eleven, he immigrated to Canada with his parents and six (soon to be seven) siblings on the cruise ship Ryndam. He grew up in Grande Prairie where he enjoyed playing sports, helped his parents with after school jobs and served as an altar boy for daily morning mass. He also managed to find time to build a motorboat from scratch and restore an old 1953 Ford car. After completing grade twelve at St. Louis College in Moosejaw, SK, he worked for the City of Grande Prairie.  He learned how to survey land and decided he wanted to become a civil engineer. He attended the University of Alberta where he made many lifelong friends at St. Joseph’s College. In February of his final year, he convinced his sweetheart, Thelma, to stay in Canada and not return to Bermuda.  By April they were engaged, and by September they were married.

 

Henry graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. After working for the Department of Highways, teaching at NAIT, working for Bechtel in Grande Prairie, and starting Unicom Industries Construction with his brothers, he eventually began his own engineering firm, Scheunhage and Associates. He worked for himself until his retirement at age 67. We are all very proud of the many buildings his firm designed throughout Grande Prairie.

 

While these life events, milestones, and accomplishments are wonderful and paint a picture of an incredible journey through life; it all feels a bit black and white, and they are not our dad.

 

Mom’s husband, our dad, and our children’s grandpa …. was so much more than facts.

 

Our dad was a STORY.  His story was brilliant, colourful, joyous, and filled with tremendous love.

 

Our dad was many things: A devoted and loving son, who respected his parents and loved his siblings.

 

He was a friend, a trustworthy and fun friend. Boy, could he sing and, boy, could he cheat at cards. We suspect he may have enjoyed trying to get away with cheating more than playing the actual game.

 

He was a loving husband to our mom, Thelma, and witnessing this helped us, his daughters, choose the wonderful men we have in our lives today.

 

He was a lover of toothpicks and Louis L’Amour paperbacks.

 

He never met a cookie that he didn’t like (maybe even love, yes, we think he may have loved ALL the cookies).

 

He was a man of faith and prayer and truly lived out the principles of that faith. He loved his St. Joseph’s Catholic community in Grande Prairie, AB where he and Thelma practiced their faith throughout their married life. Great friendships were made and still remain strong today.

 

 

He may have always had a pen and paper pad in his checkered front shirt pocket, but he also played in a band, had great hair, a motorcycle and a ’67 Mustang to balance things out. We knew he was cool.

 

If you were fortunate enough to know Hank Scheunhage and loved or cared for him in some way, we hope he touched your lives the same way he did ours.

 

We were all lucky, and truly blessed to be in his life, and that is why his absence is leaving such a big hole in our lives and hearts. Even after a long goodbye, it is bittersweet.

 

Besides his loving wife Thelma, Henry is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law, Dana and Richard Lussier, of Calgary, Tara and Peter Przybylski, of Calgary, Lia and Kent Morley, of Calgary, and Janna and David Phllips, of Toronto; ten grandchildren, Gabrielle Lussier, of Edmonton, Isabelle Lussier, of Vancouver, and Racquel Lussier, of Camrose, Kyra, Luke, and Avery Przybylski, of Calgary, Carter Morley, of Calgary and Emmett Morley, of Vancouver, and Hewson and Archie Phillips, of Toronto.

 

Henry is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ludo and Joan Scheunhage, John and Vivian Scheunhage; and four sisters and brothers-in-law, Theresa Fitzpatrick and David Chamberlain, Helen and Ron Orser, Yetta and Doug Puffer, and Marilyn Bremner and Mike Bingley; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

 

Henry was predeceased by his mother Jacoba and father John Scheunhage, his brother Joe Scheunhage and nephew Josh Orser.

 

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McInnis & Holloway (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Friday June 9, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (1414 Shawnessy Boulevard SW, Calgary, AB) on Saturday June 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow at Kingsland Community Hall (505 78 Ave SW, Calgary, AB) Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Henry’s service streamed live (see below) on the evening of prayers and on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Carewest, where dad spent his final days, https://carewest.ca/donating/, or to Alzheimer’s Research, https://alzheimer.ca/en/take-action/make-your-donation-today.

 

In living memory of Henry Scheunhage, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.

 

 

 

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