We Remember
HENCZEL, Edwin
February 2, 1935 — October 26, 2026
Edwin Henczel passed away peacefully in Kelowna on Oct. 26 at the age of 91.
He was born on Groundhog Day in Lizard Lake, Sask., and was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend. He will be remembered fondly by his family and friends. The only consolation is that he is now experiencing unconditional love, free from pain, in the arms of God.
He was predeceased by his parents, Emanuel and Eugenia, and siblings Bill, Ron, George, Herman, Dorothy, Adeline and Ella, and by his loving wife of 65 years, Eleanor.
He is survived by his two sons, Edward (Lisa) and Evan, his grandson, Alex and his youngest brother, Ken.
Ed will be dearly remembered by the extended Henczel and Gysler families, as well as his innumerable friends, neighbours, and former colleagues.
Edwin’s family moved from Poland/Germany in 1929, and he was born in a sod cabin in northern Saskatchewan in the winter of 1935.
The location was so remote that his birth certificate lists his place of birth as Sec. 10, Twp. 39, Rge. 14, W3rd, Saskatchewan.
(Section 10, Township 39, Range 14, West of the Third Meridian, and not, as numerous government officials at Passport Canada thought, GPS coordinates.)
The family eventually moved to Mabel Lake, where the men set about felling trees to make poles for telephone and telegraph lines. At 17, Edwin lost a leg in an industrial accident when a tree came down on his leg, and he spent the rest of his life getting even by running hundreds of thousands of trees through various sawmills in Golden, Lavington, Lumby and Vernon.
Vernon was a very small town in the 1950s, so the family of six Henczel boys (Bill, Ken, George, Herman, Ron and Edwin) didn’t take long to track down the Gysler family and their five daughters (Giesela, Erna, Rena, Lorraine and Eleanor). Giesela and Bill were married in 1956, and Eleanor and Edwin in 1959. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 20, 2024.
During their time together, Ed and Eleanor followed work opportunities in Golden, Lumby and Vernon before retiring to Grand Forks in 1993.
Edwin was known for his incredibly sunny disposition and was, and remains, an inspiration to all who knew him.
Raised in a working-class family during the Great Depression, Edwin was both thrifty and conscientious, reducing, reusing and recycling decades before it became trendy. If anyone has a use for a couple of thousand shop rags, please let us know.
Edwin’s family would like to thank Drs. Brussow and Bobyn, as well as the amazing staff at Glenmore Lodge, for the excellent care they provided during his stay.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.


