Obituary of Otto Edward Gerstel

Otto was born on September 27, 1934, in Barthal Saskatchewan. He was the 5th of 8 children born to Joseph and Maria Gerstel. When he was about 17 he decided it was time to leave home and strike out on his own. In 1951, he headed to B.C. to find a job, checking out Vancouver Island and then going to the Vanderhoof area where his brothers lived. In 1954 Otto came to live in Little Prairie, where he met his future wife Eva Massee. Eva recalls that he was playing in a baseball game at Sunset Prairie when she first saw him, and that they attended the dance together that evening. These years were full of fun, especially at Halloween. On July 20th, 1957 Otto and Eva were married and settled into their life together. Otto loved to work. He hauled freight from Dawson Creek to Little Prairie for the grocery store for a few years, and then decided to go haul gravel on Highway 97 while it was being upgraded around Silver Sands. Soon the kids started coming, Cindy in June 1959, Wendy in October 1960 and Tim in August 1964. He loved his family dearly and provided well for them. He worked on the WAC Bennett Dam as a labourer, cleared some of the right of way for the Heritage Highway, and operated a tie mill near Fellers Heights. He then ran his skidder helping clear the area that the WAC Bennett Dam was to flood. In 1976 he bought a truck and hauled logs to the Chetwynd mills until 1979. In 1979, with Eva by his side, Otto established O.E. Gerstel Transport. Alongside him, Tim drove truck and Eva worked dispatch. His company provided a service to the local logging contractors and the numerous other companies working in the Peace. Trucks bearing the name O. E. Gerstel Transport could be seen delivering loads throughout B.C. and into Alberta. Otto & Tim worked extremely hard and the company prospered, providing work for young relatives & other truck drivers, some of whom remained lifelong friends. They ran the company until 2001, after which he retired. While he was busy with O.E. Gerstel Transport, Otto and Eva bought a farm in Lone Prairie. There were many weekends when you would find all the kids and friends out there helping in the fields, building corrals and working with their herd of cattle. There was lots of work done but lots of fun and joking and teasing as well. It was always very satisfying at the end of the day. During all the work there was some play. In earlier years, Otto and Eva belonged to the local Square Dancing club, travelling to many different locations. More recently, there were boating, camping and snowmobiling trips with the kids and their spouses. ...and there were fishing trips. Otto took a few breaks and he and Eva would go to Prince Rupert to go Salmon fishing. Even though he didn't like big bodies of water, he loved to fish and often brought back many. But the favourite thing in Otto's life was his family which he loved very much. He loved it when they were around to visit or spend special days with him and Eva. He especially loved the grandchildren, packing them in the truck, hanging swings in trees for little girls , taking them to the Fall Fair, having bonfires and sledding parties at the farm. A special little game he would play with every grandchild was "pass the toothpick", which was done ever so gently. His eyes always lit up when he recounted some achievement or adventure one of them had. Otto passed away with his family by his side on May 8th, 2012 in Chetwynd, BC at the age of 77 years. A funeral service was held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Chetwynd, Fr. Vener Sabacan officiated, Interment followed in the Tuscoola Mountain Cemetery. Otto was predeceased by his Parents; Joseph & Maria Gerstel, Son; Rodney Edward Gerstel, Brothers; Martin, Sig and John Gerstel, and Son-in-law; Dean Martin. Otto is survived by his Wife; of 54 years, Eva Gerstel, Daughters; Cindy Langford (Joe),Wendy Martin, Son; Tim Gerstel (Belinda), Grandchildren; Kristie, Sarah, Mary, Megan, Tamara, Blaine Kaylee, Great Grandchildren; Aiden, Daemon, Sisters; Rose Campbell, Liz Campbell (Frank),Tina Merry, Stef Hora (Gordon), and many nieces and nephews. Special Memories of Otto presented by; Russell Young. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Otto to the Chetwynd Hospital Foundation Palliative Care, Box 121, Chetwynd, B.C. V0C 1J0 Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium