Friedhold Reichert

It is with great sadness that the family of Friedhold Reichert announces his passing on November 17, 2025, at the age of 95 years.         

Born in Hamburg, Germany to Johannes and Minna Reichert, Friedhold, third eldest of six siblings, spent his early years in Hamburg until the family was evacuated to West Prussia in 1943 and subsequently had to flee from the Russian invasion in 1945. As his father and two elder brothers had been conscripted, Friedhold was left to help his Mother and three younger siblings until they finally resettled in Hamburg at the end of the war.
Friedhold had begun training as an airplane mechanic after completing eighth grade, but had to change to an apprenticeship as power tool craftsman which he completed in 1949. From 1950 through 1955 Friedhold worked at Tretorn in Hamburg. It was during this time that Friedhold drove a  250 Zundapp motorcycle.
In June of 1955 Friedhold emigrated to Canada along with his elder brother Henry and sister-in-law Ursula. Initially they landed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Friedhold worked in construction. After several months both brothers found work in Hamilton, Ontario at Stelco. Friedhold worked there as a Millwright in the Cold Mill until his retirement in 1990.

In September of 1956, Friedhold married Liesa, nee Schmidt who he had met while still living in Hamburg. Their honeymoon journey was by ship; the Arosa Star. They settled in Hamilton, Ontario. Their marriage was blessed with four children, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They both became active members of Mission Baptist Church in Hamilton, Friedhold as an usher and financial advisor and trustee. Friedhold was a man of strong faith.

Music was a big part of family gatherings. Friedhold remembered all the lyrics of the German Christmas carols and many hymns and folk songs and would sometimes just spontaneously start singing or even reciting poems he had learned as a youth.

Friedhold believed in keeping fit and active. He and Liesa both enjoyed cycling, swimming, camping and going for long walks. In 1972 he bought a swimming pool for the family which was enjoyed daily until late into the season. In the winter, Friedhold swam at the community pool several times a week. This past summer, Friedhold still swam for an hour a day, whenever he could. 

Friedhold was quite handy and innovative around things mechanical and automotive. He also made effective improvements in the family home, most notably the backyard patio shelter, pool enclosure and patio furniture where much time was spent with family and friends.

Thanks to Friedhold, there are many family photographs; most of them around the table or in the backyard or canoeing and camping. Camping was the family holiday of choice, starting out with a heavy canvas tent with the poles tied to the bumper of the 1959 VW beetle, and then graduated to a fold-out tent trailer in 1967 pulled by the VW station wagon. Friedhold’s favourite campground was Pinery Provincial Park, where he and Liesa spent many weeks in later years in their 1975 Boler trailer. 

From 1956 to 2025 Friedhold was a resident of Hamilton, Ontario, until he moved to live with his daughters near Ottawa, Ontario in April of 2025.

Friedhold is survived by siblings Rosi (Juergen) and Erika; his children Renate (Dieter), Gerhard (Gayle), Barbara (George) and Marion (Greg) and grandchildren Sonja, Monika, Brandon, Laura, Cheryl, Tanya, Tobias, Sarah, Hannah, and Leah-Joy and great-grandchildren Fletcher, Lucy, Amelia, Asher and Callie. He was predeceased by his spouse Liesa (married 64 years), siblings Gerhard, Bernd and Nelli, and grandson Andreas.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Monday, November 24 at 2:00 pm at Calvary Bible Church, 15 Beech Street, Smiths Falls, Ontario. 

For those unable to attend the service in person, you can follow it via live video on Calvary Bible Church's Facebook page;

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse Canada in Friedhold’s memory. 

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