Wilhelm Leopold Kurth crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1929. 8 years old, he held his mother and father's hands on the deck of the boat that brought them from Germany to Canada, wondering what will happen to him. Why did they come here to start a new life? I don't know.
As a teenager, William joined the Canadian armed forces, and was shipped in Italy to fight against the Germans during the World War II. How did he feel about fighting against his native country? And being German, how did the other Canadian troops treat him? I don't know.
He then married Marjorie Elsie, the love of his life, and Hilda, his only child, was born in 1952. His two grandchildren came to this world in 1973 and 1975, and during that time, he accumulated 30 years of service for the Canadian customs. Was his career of supervising the seaports and airports of Montreal exciting? I don't know.
In 1982, William bought himself the only new car he ever owned, a fantastic burgundy Dodge Aries station wagon. While he crossed an ocean with an upset stomach at age 8, his 7-year-old grandson couldn't withstand a half-hour ride in the Dodge, and threw up in it. William had the car for only two days. Was he mad at his grandson? I don't know.
His grandson is me. And if I have so many questions without answers today, it's my own fault. At 71, my granddad was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and passed away four months later. At the time, I was 16, I had just bought my first car and I had no care in the world. Today, I painfully regret not sitting down and talking to him, and to learn about his life, his passions, and the cars he owned.
Don't do the same mistake I did. Talk to your elders before it's too late. Ich vermisse dich, Großvater.
As a teenager, William joined the Canadian armed forces, and was shipped in Italy to fight against the Germans during the World War II. How did he feel about fighting against his native country? And being German, how did the other Canadian troops treat him? I don't know.
He then married Marjorie Elsie, the love of his life, and Hilda, his only child, was born in 1952. His two grandchildren came to this world in 1973 and 1975, and during that time, he accumulated 30 years of service for the Canadian customs. Was his career of supervising the seaports and airports of Montreal exciting? I don't know.
In 1982, William bought himself the only new car he ever owned, a fantastic burgundy Dodge Aries station wagon. While he crossed an ocean with an upset stomach at age 8, his 7-year-old grandson couldn't withstand a half-hour ride in the Dodge, and threw up in it. William had the car for only two days. Was he mad at his grandson? I don't know.
His grandson is me. And if I have so many questions without answers today, it's my own fault. At 71, my granddad was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and passed away four months later. At the time, I was 16, I had just bought my first car and I had no care in the world. Today, I painfully regret not sitting down and talking to him, and to learn about his life, his passions, and the cars he owned.
Don't do the same mistake I did. Talk to your elders before it's too late. Ich vermisse dich, Großvater.
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| William Kurth in 1939, at 18 years of age, with his boss's Buick. Picture taken at the gas station on the corner of Sherbrooke and Monkland, in Montreal. |