Alvin Gustav Freier

Alvin Gustav Freier of Binscarth, Manitoba passed away unexpectedly at the age of 88 years on October 6, 2022 at the Brandon hospital. He is predeceased (September 16, 2022) by his wife Caroline, his parents, 2 brothers; David and Wilhelm, and 6 sisters; Elsie Koss, Martha Fil, Annie Moore, Lydia Freier, Mary Wiebe, and Frieda Freier. Of his generation, left to mourn is his 96 year old sister, Ida Kihn.

He is survived by his daughter Eileen (Darrell) Vion and children Chad (Gloria), Joshua (Maryanne), Garth (Angela), Faith (Matthew) Block, Hope Vion; his son Ken (Gail) Freier, and children Kaitlyn (Chris) Atkinson, Jayden, Levi; his son  Arthur (Teresa) Freier and children Jasmine (Troy) Lydiate, Riley (Mikaela) Freier; and his son Brian (Karen) Freier and children Cassandra (Nathan) Short, Sean (Ashlyn) Freier, and Lynea Freier. He also leaves behind 23 great grandchildren. 

Alvin was born to Gustav and Paulina Freier on June 19, 1934 in the Freefield district near Inglis, Manitoba. Alvin spent his youth learning how to farm. As one of the youngest children, he worked the fields with horses and tended livestock with his siblings. His father was demanding. “Arbeit” (work) and “mach schnell” (hurry up) were commonly heard phrases in Alvin’s traditional German household.  Alvin and Caroline (nee Kihn) had their first date in 1956 at a movie theatre in Dryden, Ontario due to his sister, Ida’s wise counsel that Caroline was a “good catch”! Sure enough, they married in 1957 and spent the next 65 years together building a family, a farm, and a legacy of faith in Christ. The Curly Oaks farm in the banana belt area west of Binscarth, Manitoba next to the Assiniboine valley was a beautiful location, but the farming was difficult. Alvin considered the warning of a neighbor, “no one has lasted more than 2 years on that dry pile of rocks!” But Alvin persisted. The kids have fond and some not so fond memories of hot dusty days picking rocks as well as the excitement of running to safety from an explosion as Alvin cleared up the larger stones with a modern technology called dynamite! Whether working fields, chasing cattle, harvesting, baling, fencing, constructing sheds, or investing in his favorite hobby, beekeeping, Alvin worked hard and was sure to take family and visitors alike out to the job site and put them to work too!  The work paid off and the farm produced enough to support the family. Alvin showed his survival skills through many personal trials such as catching a foot in the grain auger, losing a kidney in an incident with a beef animal, losing 2/3 of a lung due to asbestos exposure, a hip replacement surgery, and battling lymphocytic leukemia for several decades. In the end, the family suspects that Alvin finally succumbed to a broken heart when his wife of 65 years passed away and he was no longer able to visit her daily and help feed her supper at the Russell personal care home.

Alvin expressed his faith in Christ through regular attendance at the Lutheran Church, family devotions, and music. The children sang with their dad almost as soon as they could talk. Alvin had them singing for church, for weddings, and for family gatherings. Alvin never missed an opportunity to join a music group, whether it was the church choir, men’s barbershop chorus, Russell Elks Band, the Binscarth Village Singers, and the church ensemble, Gospel Vision, where he sang and played bass guitar. Alvin loved church and was happy to do pulpit supply and preach a sermon or two himself. He loved the people and he loved the Lord.  

 Alvin told his children, “Romans 10 verse 9 is a favorite verse of mine”, which reads as follows: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Alvin lived what he believed and left behind a legacy of fortitude and faith. May we who remain seek to fulfil our calling as Alvin did.