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A photo of Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig

Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig 1929 - 1980

Heinrich Bruno Wittig of 740 - St. David Street North, in Fergus, Wellington County, ON Canada was born on June 6, 1929 in Zeulenroda-Triebes, Chemnitz County, Thuringia Germany to Emilie Olhausen/Wittig and Richard Robert Wittig. Heinrich Wittig had siblings Willy Kurt Wittig and Walleria Wittig/Szymanska. Heinrich's partner was Eleanor Tafoya-Torres, and they had a child Edward Walter Furlong. He also married Helene "Helen" Gertrud (Birrenbach) Wittig Magee, and they had a child Ruben Wittig. Heinrich Wittig died at age 51 years old on June 26, 1980 at Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus, Wellington County, ON Canada, and was buried in 1980 at cremation & burial; Fergus (main) cemetery in Fergus, ON.

Heinrich Bruno Wittig
Henry
Name
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740 - St. David Street North, in Fergus, Wellington County, ON Canada
Last residence
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June 6, 1929
Zeulenroda-Triebes, Chemnitz County, Thuringia, Germany
Birth
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June 26, 1980
Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus, Wellington County, ON, Canada
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Updated: February 26, 2024
Biography ID: 192697061 What's this
Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig Heinrich Wittig (1929 - 1980)
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Heinrich Bruno Wittig's History: 1929 - 1980

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  • Introduction

    (a work in progress; maxed out the character count, editing) 1929 Born in Zeulenroda, Germany 1929-06-06 (eye colour: green with hazel-brown, nautral hair colour: brown) ... strict teacher mr.? "Fisch"?, corporal punishment ... 1945 drafted into the Germany navy @ the end of World War II (~February, 1945) -served in officer's training on a sail-training vessel; nominally/ostensibly as initial preparation for eventual U-boat service P.O.W. ("from age 16 to 19", therefore starting some time after 1945-06-06?) at a labour camp in Russia/U.S.S.R. 1945-1948 ... 1948 returned to Russian occupied/eastern Germany in 1948 (before the end of September at the latest, as per photographic records; some time after his 19th birthday, 1948-06-06) ... relationship with Irene? Worked as an archives clerk @ Ev. Luth. Church ... 1951 escaped to western Germany in about 1951(?); "swam across a river" worked on a riverboat (he was too skinny/lightweight to pull down the folding/retractable smokestack-funnel for crossing under bridges; it lifted him up off the deck instead, the captain had to intervene & pull both him & the stack down), possibly worked @ a carnival also? emigrated to Canada in late 1951 (West German passport issued 24 September, 1951 @ Frankfurt am Main; Canadian(?) immigration approval stamp - Health & Welfare Dep't(?), 1951-10-01, Karlsruhe); traveled by ship, M/S Anna Salen (Swedish registry at the time; Shipspotting -
    [external link]
    Wikipedia entry -
    [external link]
    ) ...which may not work right, so here: en. wikipedia .org/wiki/HMS_Archer_(D78) ). Sailed from Bremerhaven (the ship subsequently stopped in LeHavre to pick up more passengers) to Halifax (landed immigrant stamp at Halifax, 29 December, 1951) - During this crossing, on 26 December 1951, the Anna Salén encountered the Canadian coaster SS Mayfall (~200 tons) flying a distress signal. Mayfall had been caught out in bad weather and had a "dead engine". Anna Salén towed Mayfall to the harbour entrance at St John's, Newfoundland, handed her off to a harbour tugboat, and then continued on the journey to Halifax. (from the travel-memoir of another passenger on the same voyage, from the Pier 21 Museum in Halifax:
    [external link]
    ) ... Western Canada (mainly Alberta & British Columbia), staying with his Ohlhausen relatives for part(s) of this time ... 1952 (issued an unemployment insurance number @ Victoria, B.C., 1952-02-22; possibly started new job at this time, hence u.e. registration?) ... moved to northern Ontario (arrived circa 1953-1955?), various places (including Sudbury) & homesteading/"pioneering" a farm out in the bush near Engelhart, Ontario ... Toronto, circa 1958 ... 1958 (residence? at 995 Bathurst Street, Toronto, 1958-08-06) contracted chronic, viral Hepatitis from a blood transfusion @ Toronto General Hospital(?), while being treated for a bleeding ulcer (stomach/duodenal); circa 1958 met Helene "Helen" Gertrud Birrenbach (later Wittig, then Magee; German Catholic) in Toronto (same boarding/rooming house?) ... 1959 married Helen in January 1959 -vacation trip with Helen back to the farm up north, circa July 1959 ... 1959-1970 Toronto, with Helen, various residences - the rooming/boarding house (where they met? 995 Bathurst St., or where?), an apartment, house #1, house #2 (64 Kalmar Avenue, Scarborough); different jobs, various, & started own business 'The Antique(s) Workshop' (antiques; furniture & some glass, etc. - purchase (i.e.: items/(job lots?) from the U.K.) repair & sales; furniture restoration - woodwork, finishing, & upholstery) -the haunted rocking-chair story (it would start rocking by itself) during this period of time -both wanted to have children (plural), but were not able to (did not conceive?), until Ruben in 1970; eventually? considered adoption, apparently rejected because of age (for being first-time parents, by the standards of the time) -various married-life as a couple stories; i.e.: do not try to fry cottage cheese in a frying-pan; fights/arguements -camping-trips with Helen -travel to Germany (East & West), met each other's parents -met Sylvia Hill, as english teacher/tutor for Henry? became friends -Henry became interested in the Church of Christian Science (NOT related to Scientology); met Syd & Doreen Townsend during this, became friends. -late 1960s? Derek Townsend, son of friends Sydney (Sid) & Doreen Townsend, lived with them. possibly worked in the Antiques business for Henry? ... circa 1969-1970 - job establishing & managing an antiques & woodworking -shop & sales of same @ Bon Accord Farm (Gov't of Ontario; an Addiction Research Foundation - Alcohol & Drug - rehabilitation project, primarily to treat alcoholism) near Fergus & Elora, Ontario ... 1970 1st (known) child & son, Ruben Wittig, born in Toronto in 1970; to Helen Wittig. (baptised Anglican, as a "compromise"-solution) (concurrent with above) moved permanently from Scarborough, Toronto to Fergus, Wellington County (Ontario, Canada); riverfront house (address is pending). .;.. sometime during this period -rental houseboat vacation that did not work out; Henry, Helen, & Ruben -trip to West Germany with Ruben (but not East Germany?) ... 1973 circa early spring 1973 moved from 1st house in Fergus (riverfront) to 2nd house in Fergus (740 St. David Street North); extensive renovation project (including division into 3 apartments), problems with contractor (Mr. Kellendonck *sp?), much stress ... Helen & Henry separated permanently in about 1973-4; subsequently divorced (finalised several years later, as per process under Canadian law at the time) -Helen & Ruben continue to occupy the upstairs (whole-floor) apartment, Henry moves into the downstairs-rear, bachelor apartment. This arrangement remains until Henry's death. ~1974 placed on disability (via employee insurance) after severe illness due to chemical exposure (in particular, insect spraying @ Bon Accord Farm; also, inadequate ventillation in the stripping, & paint & finishing areas of the workshop, combined with increased production/useage of same) & increased sensitivity to such, due to pre-existing liver condition (chronic hepatitis) ... 1975 ... during this time & subsequent Assorted art - graphics & some sculpture, photography (mostly related to other artwork or personal); mineral collecting (camping trips) Pottery (manufacture & sales; ultimately the most commercially successful venture by the late 1970s) -addition added to back of house @ 740 St. David. St. north -studio/workshop space for Henry (had problems with the new foundation) -finds (stray pet?) green bird (budgerigar?) ... 1976 summer camping trip with Ruben? truck Met Eleanor Tafoya (later Torres) in late September 1976; Elora-Fergus, Ontario. An American girl, she was a temporary member of the (post-Vietnam War era) American "exile"/expat community in Canada. Her boyfriend 'Moises' was in prison at the Guelph Correctional Centre for marjuana possession/smuggling (cross-border). She returned to the state of California, in the U.S.A. with her boyfriend 'Moises' at the end of March, 1977. She was pregnant with Henry's child. Henry was not aware of this at the time, no information about whether he ever knew about this (Henry wanted more children; it is unclear if Eleanor knew that, or not); no further contact from them. ... 1977 summer camping trip with Ruben to northern Ontario (visited his old farm, & old friends (Albert?) near Englehart this year? truck) 2nd (known) child & son, Edward Walter Furlong, was born in Los Angeles(?) 1977-08-02 (including full date because publicly known); to Eleanor Tafoya/Torres. ~1977(?) - (last) trip (back) to Germany (mostly East Germany); for family visits, etc. joined P.W.P. (Parents Without Partners) social group by now, if not sooner relationship with Dorris, circa 2nd half of 1977? (divorced, 1 son, "Robbie", ~ age 13) ... ~1977-1978 -sold 1960s Mercury truck "Opa", got 1970s Pontiac Laurentian station wagon -purchased a small camping trailer ... 1978 summer camping, various July - his sister Walleria died (suddenly/unexpectedly) from a heart attack; Szczecin (Stettin), Poland relationship with Marjory/Margaret ("March"/Marge), circa 1978 (teacher, divorced?, no children?) ... ~1978-1980 - vacation trips to Cuba, & later to Jamaica as well, during this time ... 1979 relationship with Eva Leonard, circa 1979?-1980 (divorced, 3 children - Anna Maria, George, & Lori Lee) -friendly interaction of the 2 families -Eva, George, & Lori move in to the downstairs-front apartment @ 740 St. David Street North; Henry is (still) in the downstairs-back, bachelor apt (the connecting door between the apartments in unsealed). -Henry wanted to have more children/another child, but Eva decided against this (Henry was disappointed/sad about this) (final) trip to western Canada (with Eva), to see cousins, etc. - 1979? summer camping, various ... ~1979-80 -built garden shed -built hutch & got 1 rabbit as test/start for rabbit-breeding -sold camping trailer, purchased fibreglass sailboat shell (~15 ft?, never completed/never used; sold as part of the liquidation of his estate) ... 1980 end of May to early June 1980 - becomes increasingly ill due to a Hepatitis flare-up, is hospitalised by mid-June @ Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus, Ontario died 1980-06-26 (~1:xx a.m.); liver failure due to long-term chronic, viral Hepatitis refer to extended album for a more-complete biography:
    [external link]
    photos.google .com /share/AF1QipPS8vkK3zIoFTP2TNtMTUWGSxoADGjxaRNynn40zDubBzA9O44ET-QsSY1p318piw?key=VW5NZ1pDVkRIQTdralpPcVRva3phUzdmd05hckZ3
  • 06/6
    1929

    Birthday

    June 6, 1929
    Birthdate
    Zeulenroda-Triebes, Chemnitz County, Thuringia Germany
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Central & Easern European, German ethnicity, naturalised Canadian Citizen

  • Nationality & Locations

    Germany, East Germany (DDR), West Germany (BRD), Canada

  • Early Life & Education

    various

  • Religious Beliefs

    Ev. Luth., then later Christian Scientist (NOT SCIENTOLOGIST)

  • Military Service

    Germany Navy W.W. 2 (Kriegsmarine); drafted in February 1945, officer's training on a sail-training vessel until the end of the war in Europe, P.O.W. in Russian labour camp (in the U.S.S.R.) 1945 (June?) - 1948 (had returned by end of September 1948)

  • Professional Career

    Artist & Artisan; painting, sketch, sculpture, pottery, some photography, antiques restoration & woodworking, upholstery. Various other; farmer, salesman, clerk, sailor, butcher, etc.
  • 06/26
    1980

    Death

    June 26, 1980
    Death date
    Liver failure due to chronic hepatitis; aggravated by chemical exposure
    Cause of death
    Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus, Wellington County, ON Canada
    Death location
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  • 1980

    Gravesite & Burial

    1980
    Funeral date
    cremation & burial; Fergus (main) cemetery in Fergus, Wellington County, ON Canada
    Burial location
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13 Memories, Stories & Photos about Heinrich

Lisa Harlan
35 favorites
04/08/2023
So definitely something wrong
These were definitely happier times
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Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig
Ruben Wittig
35 favorites
09/07/2017
Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig
A photo of Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig. "Out West" with his O(h)lhausen -side cousins. Eastern Canada early 1950s, shortly after immigrating-to/arriving-in Canada.
Date & Place: at Western Canada in Canada
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M/S ANNA SALEN
Ruben Wittig
35 favorites
10/05/2017
M/S ANNA SALEN
A photo of the ship that Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig travelled to Canada on; file image, exact date unknown, but must have been during the time this ship was sailing under that name (from circa 1948 until 1955?)
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Heinrich & Helen Wittig, 1959
Ruben Wittig
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10/01/2017
Heinrich & Helen Wittig, 1959
A photo of Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig & Helen Gertrud Birrenbach-Wittig
Date & Place: at probably in in Toronto, Toronto Division County, ON Canada
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Eleanor Tafoya-Torres; September 1976
Ruben Wittig
35 favorites
09/13/2017
Eleanor Tafoya-Torres; September 1976
Eleanor Tafoya later Torres, in a photograph taken by Henry Wittig; late September 1976, near Fergus Ontario, Canada. ( zoomed & cropped; filesize of original was too large for 'ancientfaces'; see:
[external link]
photos. app. goo. gl/QjQLQzIXfvkjBYDJ3 &
[external link]
photos .app .goo .gl/sHOlqLFi3JzW7Ze23 )
Date & Place: in Fergus, Wellington County, ON Canada
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Heinrich (Henry) Bruno Wittig & family
Ruben Wittig
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05/31/2017
Heinrich (Henry) Bruno Wittig & family
A photo of Heinrich (Henry) Bruno Wittig & family
Date & Place: in Zeulenroda, Thüringen 07937, Germany
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Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig
Ruben Wittig
35 favorites
09/13/2017
Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig
A photo of Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Heinrich (Henry) Bruno Wittig, 1948
Ruben Wittig
35 favorites
05/31/2017
Heinrich (Henry) Bruno Wittig, 1948
A photo of Heinrich (Henry) Bruno Wittig; returned from POW prison/labour camp in Russia/U.S.S.R.; September 1948
Date & Place: in Zeulenroda, Thuringen Germany
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Heinrich
Ruben Wittig
35 favorites
09/11/2017
Heinrich
A photo of Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; cirrca 1958-1959. Photograph almost certainly Taken by Helen Birrenbach-Wittig.
Date & Place: in Toronto, Toronto Division County, ON Canada
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Alberta oilfields.
Ruben Wittig
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09/10/2017
Alberta oilfields.
A photo of Heinrich "Henry" Brüno Wittig; early 1950s, in Alberta, Canada (Stettler area?). Working in the oil industry.
Date & Place: in Stettler, Division No. 7 County, AB Canada
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Heinrich Wittig's Family Tree & Friends

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Friendships

Heinrich's Friends

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Other Biographies

Other Wittig Family Biographies

Wittig, Alfred (Mar 25, 1891 - Aug 1971) Wittig, Marie (Oct 9, 1892 - Aug 1976) Wittig, Rhoda (Jul 11, 1909 - Apr 1, 1997) Wittig, Carl (Nov 22, 1887 - Oct 1973) Wittig, Marjorie (Mar 20, 1893 - Jan 1971) Wittig, Elizabeth (Oct 29, 1889 - Nov 1982) Wittig, Agnes (Sep 15, 1896 - May 1984) Wittig, Carl (Oct 16, 1919 - May 17, 1999) Wittig, Cecilia (Apr 2, 1904 - Sep 1994) Wittig, Anthony (Oct 9, 1917 - Jul 1968)
Wittig, Robert (Nov 10, 1919 - Feb 1980) Wittig, Grover (Jan 24, 1893 - Jan 1975) Wittig, Andrew (Feb 3, 1924 - Jan 4, 1998) Wittig, Elberta (Jul 23, 1922 - May 20, 1990) Wittig, William (Dec 3, 1887 - Mar 1974) Wittig, Herbert (Oct 13, 1902 - Jun 1976) Wittig, Hazel (Aug 18, 1904 - Jul 1979) Wittig, Edward (Mar 10, 1908 - Dec 1978) Wittig, Robert (Jan 28, 1881 - Apr 1966) Wittig, Gustav (Feb 14, 1915 - Sep 19, 1998)
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