Obituary of Arthur Pohl

Arthur Pohl passed away on Thursday, 28 November 2024 at the age of 89 years. It is with profound sadness that we watched his health decline over the last two months of his life: first with covid; and then pneumonia which brought him to his final breath among family at the Grace Hospital.

Arthur was a son, brother, father, opa, great opa, uncle, coach, mentor and friend. He was predeceased by his grandparents Daniel and Emilia Pohl, and parents, Julius and Ida Pohl; daughter Elfie; siblings Waldemar, Irma, and Arnold, and Daisy.

He will be deeply missed by wife of 60 years Meta, children Linda, Kim (Koda), Arthur Jr. (Wendy); grandchildren Jen, Reg (Corina), and Gord; great-grandchildren Adeline, Arizona, and Joshua; and a close-knit network of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Arthur was born in the German farming community of Slomiak, Ukraine, in the border region of Wolyn (Vohlynia).  In 1939, the family was relocated to farmland in Trepke, Poland, and later moved to Ahrensburg, Schleiswig-Holstein, Germany in post war years. Art attended the Stormarnschule and began working for the Bockmann family estate as grounds keeper and landwirtshaft, beginning school for Agrarwissenschaften (Agricultural Studies). From a young age Art learned about the rewards of land stewardship; how to grow, build, and fix just about anything, with unfailing work ethic and skills that were called upon regularly by family and friends over the decades.

In 1957 Arthur planted a birch tree in their yard in Ahrensburg, marking their life on the Old Continent and the move to Canada. Together with his mother and youngest siblings, Arthur joined brother Walter and his wife Helen in Winnipeg. Art found work as a house-framer and then a proud member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union working in food services butcher for 30 years, retiring in 1999.

It was through soccer that Art met future wife Meta, as a fan, 'cheering' for her brother on the same team. They married in 1964, raising the family in their home living there for all 60 years. December 18 would have been their 60th anniversary. Dad planted his last batch of seedlings for his gardens at the lake and in the city in June,and cut the grass for the last time in September.

Art's lifelong love of soccer began in Germany, that he carried to his new role as a winning coach and manager in youth and mens' soccer at the highest levels with Germania Kickers Soccer Club, being awarded the Achievement of Sports Excellence, by The Order of Manitoba. The old Alexander Park soccer pitch was the social hub for Art and Meta, as was The German Club of Winnipeg, where Art organized fundraisers and volunteered as an active member for over 50 years, also enjoying many post-game gatherings with the team, and World and Euro Cup viewing parties; his last one in July. Art also enjoyed bowling with the Club's league, the 'odd' fishing trip, watching Bundesliga on Saturdays, Jets hockey and CFL, and became an "armchair curler" in later years.

The cottage at Twin Beaches was a second home for the Pohls and relatives, dad often grumbled about how much work it was, but when he saw and heard everyone having fun, young grandchildren taking their first steps there, one might catch a smile of satisfaction on his face, knowing it was worth the upkeep and restoration. In his final years, dad enjoyed sitting in his rocker, with a warm drink, listening to the din of songbirds at dawn and dusk.  

Art was a survivor: A young WWII witness, stood in the ration bread line as a child; lived through cancer loss, and beating two different cancer diagnoses. When he got knocked down, he got up again, again, and again.  Now Arthur has downed the tools, gone to meet his final reward, he has earned his eternal REST!

There will be a funerary service on Friday, 17 January 2025 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 65 Walnut and Wolseley at 11:00 am with lunch following. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a tree be planted in Art's memory; his Ahrensburg birch tree grew and stands tall to this very day.