We Remember
KORSCH, Heinz
January 15, 1947 — April 29, 2016
Heinz Korsch, loving husband and best friend to wife Sheryl for 45 years, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2016. He battled cancer for 18 months and has joined his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in Heaven. He died the way he learned to live: with gratitude, acceptance, perspective, humour and a thankful heart.
Heinz was born in Sörupholz, Germany and immigrated directly to Kelowna along with his three brothers, one sister and parents. His education included Mission Creek Elementary, Central Elementary and Kelowna Senior Secondary schools. His varied careers included Canadian National Railway police officer and many years in sales which included 11 years of radio sales, 14 years of television sales and management and 14 years of electronic security and video surveillance. Heinz won several national sales awards and trips. He was involved in the local Chamber of Commerce, Snow Fest and several national sales organizations during his sales careers.
Heinz accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour at Green Bay Bible Camp at the age of 12. In 1968 – 69, he took a year off work to travel as a member of the God’s Volunteers Gospel Musical Team. The Team spent one to two weeks ministering with local churches from coast to coast in Canada and the USA. This is where he met fellow Team member Sheryl Hammerstrom on September 2, 1968. They were married on June 5, 1970 in Chancellor, South Dakota.
Church involvement was very important in Heinz’s life. He served on multiple church boards, sang in the church choir for over 45 years and assisted in many other areas of ministry. Heinz also served for many years on the North American Baptist General Council and on provincial church committees.
Heinz loved and cherished time spent with his family. He enjoyed many beautiful days golfing and was very interested in and took great pleasure with anything relating to automobiles. Heinz’s favourite vacation destination was Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu, Hawaii. He enjoyed many road trips across Canada and the USA and, especially, those many day trips throughout the beautiful Okanagan Valley.
Heinz is survived by his loving wife Sheryl, sister Hilda (Egon), brothers Werner (Hanna), Egon (Adelheid), and Otto (Gisela), brothers-in-law Lynn (Nila), Arden, and Kevin (Sara) and many special nieces and nephews. Special thanks to good friends Dave and Gloria for their gracious support during Heinz’s illness.
A special Thank You to Dr. M. Bobyn, Dr. Rao and Dr. Robbins for their concern and support throughout Heinz’s Health Journey.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, May 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Baptist Church, 1905 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Baptist Legacy Fund www.trinitychurchkelowna.ca/legacy-foundation or the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior www.bccancer.bc.ca/donate .
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Service
Monday, May 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Location
Trinity Baptist Church
Share with Others:
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Baptist Legacy Fund or the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior
Memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Baptist Legacy Fund or the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior Link: www.trinitychurchkelowna.ca/legacy-foundation , www.bccancer.bc.ca/donate
Service Information
Service Details
The service for KORSCH, Heinz is scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
Trinity Baptist Church
1905 Springfield Road Kelowna, BC
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
It is with great sadness to hear of Heinz passing. Our deepest condolences to you Sheryl and families. We will miss him dearly he was a very good neighbor when My Mom and Dad was living and always was so kind to ask how they were doing and if he could help in any way. He will be deeply missed by all whom he crossed paths with and loved. Please find comfort knowing the good lord took him so he no longer suffers , he is free of pain now. He fought a courageous 18 mos battle with your tremendous and courageous support Sheryl. Thank you so much for sharing Heinz health journey with us. We are both so Blessed to have met such a wonderful , Kind Generous and Intelligent Man. RIP Heinz. With sympathy Orest and Lorraine and families.
As a family member, We are so sorry about Heinz’s passing, but know that he is with the Lord in “full” body! His ability to maintain a clear mind through all this and his ability to visit and make decisions up to the end, is a Testimony of his faith in Jesus, and the strength of spirit he approached his whole life with!! He was a great brother-in-law, and great Husband. He will be missed. I had visited on the phone with him in mid February. During that conversation, I asked him, since he was already so weak at that time if he wanted to visit, or if I should come for his funeral, as My wife also has cancer, and I wouldn’t be able to make two trips. He said he wanted to visit!! So the next day, I drove all the way up the from SD and we spent time. I am so glad I did that!! He visited, we laughed about many things, in spite of his weakness and his knowing he had a limited amount of time here left. One should look at how he dealt with this, and understand how God can bring peace and strength in a time of great suffering!!! God Bless and Comfort Heinz now, and Sheryl.
We were trulu sorry to hear of Heinz’s passing. We will never forget the image of his bright, smiling, loving, and sometimes mischievous face! Sheryl, you are in our thoughts and prayers at this time of such deep loss. Condolences and lots of love from Paul and Janneke
Sheryl, my heart goes out to you and your family, I can only imagine the pain and loss you are feeling. Heinz was a wonderful man and he will be missed by many. I pray for your strength now during this painful journey you are on. All the best, Rita & John
Our prayers are with you during this time.
We enjoyed our times to chat when we ran into each other. A highlight was our visit at “Down on the Farm” Gospel Concert.
May God give you peace for the days ahead.
Sheryl, you are in our thoughts and prayers. We were very lucky to have Heinz in our lives, and we have many fun memories of him during our family gatherings and golf outings when you traveled to SD together. He ready smile and laughter will be very missed, but will live on in our memories. God Bless.
It was with great sadness to hear of Heinz’s medical condition months ago. As a brother in law, who has lost a spouse, the thoughts are always hoping for a cure, but also knowing one may not be there. Many thoughts of Psalm 139 especially verse 16, “the days fashioned for me as yet there none of them”. And also Eccl 3:4 in the midst of the joys of life is the sadness…I often wonder “what time will it be”. Always remember Heinz as a wonderful husband and brother in law. When I visited a couple of months ago Heinz said he prayed for us daily. Hopefully someone else will fill in for him or he piled up enough to keep us going. There is a photo attached, I hope, of a man silently rowing his canoe. I took a series of photos of this man and his canoe coming out of the early morning fog and rowing out of site into the distant fog. Reminded me of life…we many times row alone and no one seemingly knows we are there except our creator who knows “the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them”. We will miss Heinz and his Canadian humor.
Dennis and I remember Heinz as a kind, considerate man with a quick sense of humour.
Our sympathy is with you Sheryl. Such a great loss from your life.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely Dennis and Elizabeth Wocks
Dear Shirley: On behalf of the NABFoundation our love and sincere condolences are sent to you. Praying for God’s presence to comfort you and the family. Appreciated all of the contacts with Heinz. Foundation staff: Ron Norman, Jan Weiss, Phil Bailey, Phil Yntema and Connie Salios
It was with great sadness to read your message, Sheryl, on Heinz’s passing. Just 2 years ago, we were together as a team at the reunion, laughing, talking and remembering many fun and interesting times spent together those 9 months in l968-69. I especially recall your engagement since you, Sheryl, and I were roommates for 2 weeks in Warren, MI. Heinz’s wonderful sense of humor, love of life and his love for you was so evident! May our loving heavenly Father bring comfort in the days ahead. God has called His faithful servant home. Our prayers and love, Jo and Bernie Koszewa
Dear Sheryl,
Carrie and I were saddened to learn of Heinz’s passing. Our sympathies to you and the entire extended family.
Dear Sheryl and all of the extended family -Sisters/Brothers and your families, we’re very sorry about Heinz’s passing. Werner/Hanna told us about his suffering and we prayed for him. Now he is with JESUS and pain free!
May God bless you and comfort you with peace and inner strength.
With sympathy and love, Dorothee and Alvin Schaber.
Sheryl and family: Terry and I were so blessed to know you and Heinz, especially during the year of God’s Volunteers. Terry regarded your spiritual strength as such a blessing. Even though many years had passed,the GV reunion brought back the fellowship and friendship as though there had been no interruption. It’s interesting to note these dates: Terry passed away on Heinz’s birthday (January 15) and Heinz passed away the day before Terry’s birthday (April 30). Today they are with our Lord and Savior, healed and rejoicing. Praising God for Heinz’s life of service.
Dear Sheryl, We were saddened to hear of Heinz passing. He was a great guy and we loved visiting with him. We are so glad that you and Heinz came to Colorado Springs to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We were able to spend quality time visiting. Whenever Heinz came to the U.S. he always looked for a great buy in a car. Such fun. Rhonda and family and Susan and family share in these condolences. We know God will guide you in the coming days. I know you have a wonderful faith family to support you. Such joy in knowing Heinz is with the Lord
Sheryl life will not be the same without your dear Heinz at your side. We are praying for you and have the hope the God will be your comforter. He was a very special cousin to me and we did a lot of fun activities together and have some good memories. So appreciated our last visit together on April 22. With sincere sympathy.
Dear Sheryl and family; We send our sympathies to you and yours during this time. We were saddened to hear of Heinz’s passing and will miss him and his smiling face. He is now pain free and in the arms of Jesus. God Bless you and keep you during this tough time. Thinking of you. Love Laurie Anne and Maryanne Livingston
We have many fond memories of Heinz in the early 90’s at Trinity and when our kids were small. You always knew just how to celebrate events and always had just the right thing to bring along; Barney towels at Sarah’s second birthday and the beautiful white coffee set from which I have my coffee every morning to this day. We were so happy to know Heinz and his gigantic heart and wonderful sense of humour. You are loved, Sheryl. Be comforted in knowing how many of us care. May Jesus be your comfort. <3
My memories of Heinz are many. His ready wit and accompanying smile were a joy to the observer. I enjoyed his calmness on the golf course, even when his ball would sometimes unerringly find water. He would calmly remark, “Wasn’t that a pretty splash?” We enjoyed singing together in the Trinity choir. His witness of his faith has left an impression upon me that I will not forget. Sheryl, may you experience His peace and comfort during these difficult times.
Jake