Former OBERMAIER

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OBERMAIER: Former Brandon resident Josef Obermaier passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday July 17, 2012 in Puchheim, Austria. Josef was born November 10, 1930 to Josef and Maria Obermaier on a farm in Puchheim, Austria. During World War 11, living on a farm meant having enough to eat when others didn’t and he was fortunate enough to be too young to be drafted into the German Wehrmacht. He served his apprenticeship in Attnang and at the Masters School for Butchers and Sausage Makers in Braunau. Returning to Attnang, he met his future wife, Irmengard. They married on April 11, 1955 and had four sons, Josef Jr., Wolfgang, Harald and Andreas. In the late 50s, they opened their first shop in Attersee, an area known for tourism. Over the years Josef won many awards in national and international competitions for his sausages. Times changed and the butcher business had no future in Austria. Josef was never resigned to this fate. A chance encounter with a sausage maker from Canada gave Josef a new direction. At the age of 57 he decided to come to Canada, first to Neepawa and then opening his own shop in Shilo and Brandon. In June of 2009, Josef suffered a crippling stroke, so he and Irmengard had to abandon their beloved new home and return via a medical flight to Austria. In a sad way, this became the happiest period of his life surrounded by loving family. He is survived by his wife, his sons, Josef (Gundi), Wolfgang, Harald, Andreas (Cirinna) and grandchildren Marlene, Doris, Laurenz and Emilia. Services were held in Puchheim Austria on Friday July 20, 2012. Messages of condolence can be sent to: Frau Irmengard Obermaier, Puchheimer Strobe 21-B-3-1, Attnaup-Puchheim 4800, Austria.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 28, 2012