Obituary of Werner Sperling

June 3, 1927 - Gumbinnen, Germany

February 3, 2024 - Black Diamond, Alberta

Werner Sperling of Bragg Creek, AB, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the age of 96 years.

Werner was born in Gumbinnen, East Prussia, and grew up on a large farm in what is now Kaliningrad Oblast. The 1930s and WWII provided many challenges, but Werner’s optimistic and hard-working nature saw him through to refuge in West Germany until he could immigrate to Canada in 1951.

He worked briefly as a laborer in Calgary, where he married the love of his life, Gudrun Sperling (nee Seehawer), in 1952. They moved to work at an agriculture research station in Swift Current, then returned to Calgary to operate a small farm together east of Calgary. In 1966, they moved to a larger farm with chickens and sheep near Bragg Creek, which Werner operated, along with jobs in machine manufacturing in Calgary.

Werner and Gudrun had four children and were married for 68 years, building and gardening together until Gudrun passed away in 2020. To the very end, Werner loved cowboy novels, kept current on world news and space travel, and made a daily detour from his farm chores to look at the Rocky Mountains before he fed and said hello to his farm animals.

Werner is survived by his son Bruno (Donna Ratledge), son Felix (Janet), and grandsons, Edward, Andrew, Thomas, and William (Madeline Williams); great-granddaughter Hazel, daughter Claudia (Keith Kendal), and granddaughter Mikaela Kendal-Macleod (Tharin Macleod); and daughter Gisela Wintonyk (Myron Wintonyk), and grandson Maxwell Wintonyk. Werner was predeceased by his brother Siegfried (2001), sister Lore (1983), and his parents, Bruno (1945) and Lucie (1960).

Werner and his family are grateful for the kind and competent care he received at the Oilfields General Hospital in Diamond Valley, AB.

A private family graveside service will be held.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Werner’s family here.

In living memory of Werner Sperling, 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.