Ottomar James Bunz
April 17, 1932 – November 27, 2022
On Sunday, April 17, 1932, Ottomar James Bunz was born on the family farm in the St. Gertrude District southeast of Muenster, Saskatchewan to Adam and Bertha (née Jung) Bunz. He was the youngest of 8 sons. Otto received his education from grades one to eight at St. Gertrude School. He enjoyed singing, yodeling, and playing the guitar and harmonica, playing ball, and going to dances. When he finished school, Otto stayed home and helped on the family farm until 1956. That summer he worked in the bush camp at Hinton, Alberta, coming home to help harvest in the fall. The following winter he worked at Candle Lake cutting poles with his brother Ray and cousin Arnold. In 1957 he worked for Tesch and Perry Contracting but the next year he stayed at home to help out, as his mother was not doing well. In 1959 he started to work for Joe’s Purity 99 Service and he and his parents moved to the Humboldt Apartments, buying a house a few years later. He continued to farm as well as work in the service station, until he sold the farm in 1963 and took over the service station. Otto ran the film projector at the Lux Theatre from the late ‘60’s to 1972. When the Examiner tested him for his license at the theatre, he told Otto he was the fastest person to get the movie started when the adjustments were out of kilter that he had ever tested. Otto’s Service Station was sold in 1973. He worked for Perry & Sons from 1974-75. Otto started to install floor covering, working with a friend for 3 years, then going on his own until 1989 when he retired due to injuring his right knee. In both summer and winter Otto loved to fish, often at fly-in fishing camps. Visiting his buddies on coffee row and frequenting Kentucky Fried Chicken were other pastimes. He travelled to Hinton many times when his brothers John and Edmond and their families lived there, along with yearly visits to his brother Walter and family in Edmonton, AB, and to his brother Henry and family when they moved to Kelowna, BC. While in BC he would pick grapes to make his tasty wine. The families of Norbert and Raymond have many happy memories of visiting with Uncle Otto. He also spent much time with his brother Carl. In 2011, Otto sold his house and moved to the Harry Ford Center. His next move was to Bethany Pioneer Village in Middle Lake on November 10, 2020. He very happily celebrated his 90th birthday, which was on Easter Sunday this year, with a big party. He even danced at the party! Ottomar had a great sense of humour and was a wonderful, caring friend to all. He did not hesitate to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed aid or give rides to people wherever they had to go. He spent years assisting his parents, and now is reunited with his father Adam and his mother Bertha; and his brothers and sisters-in-law: John (Marilyn), Henry (Helen), Carl, Raymond (Heidi), Norbert (Lillian), Edmond (Viola; Rose), and Walter (Ann). Left to mourn his passing are his loving nieces and nephews and their families, and numerous relatives and friends. The Funeral Mass was held for Ottomar on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Humboldt, and celebrated by Fr. John Ezeoruonye. Others taking part were: Frank Steier, cross bearer; Will Riley and Kirk Riley, altar servers; Bertha Miller & Bonita Harris, scripture readers; Mark Bunz, prayers of the faithful; Sylvia Feeney, Kessa Riley, and Ruth Riley, prayers of the faithful; and Rita Frank and Pat Engele, memorial table attendants. Music ministry was provided by members of the Miller and Riley families, and by Rachael Jardine and Gord Lane. Interment followed at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Cemetery, with active pallbearers: Toivo Miller, Mark Bunz, Kevin Bunz, Rod Koshinsky, Heikki Miller, and James Riley and “All of Otto’s nieces and nephews,” noted as honorary pallbearers. The memorial luncheon was held in the St. Augustine Parish Hall. Memorial donations may be directed either to St. Augustine Roman Catholic Parish Centre, (PO Box 1989, Humboldt, SK, S0K 2A0), or to Bethany Pioneer Village, (PO Box 8, Middle Lake, SK, S0K 2X0).
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)