Tributes to Zach & Barry

 

 

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 14^th 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 18^th, 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 12^th, 1995, Barry and Sigrid were excited to welcome Zachary Jon to their family. On November 4^th, 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.