A Tribute to Zach
Zachary Jon Unrau was born on March 12,
1997 at Brandon, Manitoba, to loving parents Barry and Sigrid Unrau.
Zachary was inquisitive and adventurous. His curious nature and
no-fear spirit lead him into many adventures and misadventures from
childhood on. He attended school in Elkhorn, Calgary, and Yorkton.
He developed an intense interest in photography, was always found
with a camera, and was passionate about capturing beauty through his
lens wherever he could.
Even at the age of 16 he had been
working at Tim Hortons, and recently listed himself on Facebook as a
“Paid Slave” at Kent Latimer Construction. He recently told his
aunt that he did anything he was asked and that everything he did was
preparing him for the day he would work for his dad.
Zach kept us entertained at family
gatherings with his extensive knowledge of little-known facts, and
much to the frustration of his grandmother, by photo bombing every
almost perfect picture of the grandchildren.
Zach had a unique personality and
unconventional outlook on life. He was helpful, loyal, and
brilliant. He had a quirky sense of humor, which was displayed in
numerous ways, including the time he spent nearly an entire family
gathering toting and wearing a gas mask. He took after his dad’s
desire to create with his keen interest in welding.
Zach was baptized upon confession of
his faith at Rockpoint Church in Calgary in 2009.
On August 8, Zach and his dad came to
Winkler to visit. Zach went with his grandmother, Nanny, and Nanny’s
sister Carol, to visit at Uncle Chris’s. Zach had such a helpful
nature, as he stayed at the house to help his auntie Char clean the
fridge and sweep the garage. While carousing the farm on the golf
cart, Nanny cut short the life of one of Carly’s kittens. Zach
offered to help auntie Charlotte by burying the kitten. He dug a
huge, deep hole, and told Auntie Charlotte how bad he felt doing
this. Auntie Charlotte guided him with comforting words, and
explained that life just sometimes is this way.
When they got back to Winkler, and the
steaks were just not quite ready, the opportunity Zach had been
asking for for so long had arrived. It was finally his turn to drive
Papa’s prized ’66 Mustang. He had been waiting all day for this.
As they slowed to make a turn, he left this world together with his
dad, for a better one in an instant.
Zachary Jon Unrau is survived by his
mother, Sigrid and sister Abigail of Yorkton, Saskatchewan,
Grandparents Steve and Janet Isfeld of Elkhorn, Grandparents Albert
and Lillian Unrau of Winkler, Uncle Allen and Auntie Lena, cousins
Jared and Brandon of Winnipeg, Uncle Chris and Auntie Charlotte,
cousins Adam, Katie, Carly, and Nick of Winkler. Zach’s potential
will never be realized here on this earth, but Heaven needed him more
urgently. He is exploring heaven, pulling and dragging his dad down
the streets of gold.
A Tribute to Barry
Barry Marlin Unrau was born May 14th
1971 to Albert and Lillian Unrau. He grew up grew up on an acreage
with his family on the Beaver Road, near MacGregor, Manitoba. He
always had a drive to build and create. He absorbed his father’s
passions and learned first hand from dad how to build just about
anything from almost nothing. Barry’s designing and building
abilities started as a young boy when he built a multi story
treehouse that was featured in a local paper. Barry and his two
brothers spent hours upon hours exploring our 80 acres (and many,
many, of our neighbors acres as well). Barry spearheaded our family
entry into two wheeled vehicles. After picking sweet corn for a
local farmer for cash, we pooled our money together and Barry found
us a Honda CT70. We rode that bike endlessly through the trails in
the bush. Us boys only wish dad had thought a little harder before
he fixed the seat with fiberglass tape, resulting in 3 very itchy
butts.
Barry graduated from MacGregor
Collegiate in 1989. He always did well in school and was always
involved in school activities. He spent hours with his friends and
especially the “Fab Five”.
He went directly to Brandon University
and earned a degree in Education in 1993. He was extensively
involved in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, IVCF group at
University. It was here that he met the love of his life. Barry
married Sigrid Jane Isfeld of Elkhorn, MB, on December 18th,
1993.
Barry and Sigrid began their married
life in Winnipegosis where he had his first teaching job. After a
year of teaching, he decided to change directions and left his
teaching career. Barry and Sigrid moved to Elkhorn and pursued many
different and unique opportunities, including canoe and hovercraft
construction, hedgehog farming, building construction, urn
fabricating, and more.
On March 12th, 1995, Barry
and Sigrid were excited to welcome Zachary Jon to their family. On
November 4th, 1999, Abigail Elise joined the family.
Barry was baptized upon confession of
his faith at the MacGregor Bergthaler Mennonite Church. He was
faithful to his calling in assisting whichever church he was
attending. He used his gifts extensively in the areas of drama
productions and audio visual technology.
In 2006 the family moved to Calgary
where Barry worked as a computer draftsman. He excelled in his new
career and was dedicated to providing for his family.
In 2010 they moved to Yorkton where
Barry helped establish a satellite office for C.A. Reid and
Associates. Barry’s dedication to his career was evident in many
ways. He always focused his energy on learning more, and his
inquisitive nature wouldn’t allow him to hold himself back. He
began a difficult journey to become a licensed engineer. He was
dedicated to his studies and worked fastidiously. He knew where to
find experts to help him through, and engaged his father-in-law,
Steve Isfeld, to help him with the calculus component. In the spring
of this year, Barry celebrated becoming an Engineer Licensee. It was
a huge accomplishment and the entire family was overjoyed to
celebrate along with him. Barry faced and conquered many difficult
times in his life. He always came through with a sense of
accomplishment, and he always found a way to bring out humor and
laughter.
Allen, Barry, and Chris, ABC as they
are known, didn’t spend much time together socially in later years,
but we did make the most of our time together at family gatherings.
We would often be found laughing hysterically at our own jokes,
sometimes at Dad’s expense, while our wives were rolling their eyes
and looking for exits.
On Thursday, August 8, Barry and his
son Zachary came to Winkler for the day. Barry and Zach arrived for
lunch and they visited about the business that brought them to town,
and they talked about the Catfish they caught and ate the night
before. They spent the afternoon talking and touring around and had
a wonderful visit. Just before supper, Barry, Zach, and their dad
and grandfather, Albert, went for a ride in Papa’s prized ’66
Mustang. Zach had so eagerly been waiting to drive papa’s car. On
that drive, God decided to take them home in an instant.
Barry is survived by his loving wife
Sigrid, his daughter Abigail, parents Albert and Lillian of Winkler,
his oldest brother Allen, his wife Lena of Winnipeg, and sons Jared
and Brandon; his youngest brother Chris, his wife Charlotte of
Winkler, and children Adam, Katie, Carly, and Nick; his grandmother
Helen Doell of Portage La Prairie; and his parents-in-law, Steve and
Janet Isfeld of Elkhorn.
With Barry’s passing we have lost a
loving husband, doting father, a beloved son and brother, and the
world has lost an innovator and tireless worker. We will never say
goodbye because we will hold his memory in our hearts forever.
