Art Bucholtz - my father and good friend - played many roles in 94 full years of living

My father Art Bucholtz enjoyed a final hand of cribbage with son Stuart Bucholtz, grandson Joel Glanfield and son-in-law Steve Glanfield after a Remembrance Day service at Simpson Manor in Fort Langley, where he and my mother Lynn have been living. His grandson Solon Bucholtz summed up his life this way - "Grandpa's life was his 29 hand."

“People won’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

That was the philosophy of my father Art Bucholtz, who died peacefully on Nov. 12 at age 94. He lived life to the fullest – even as his health was failing. Most recently, he gave tender, devoted care to Lynn, his wife of 65 years, as she struggled with Alzheimer’s disease.

Art had many roles in his life, and each made him into the complete person he became. He was an immigrant – born in the German-speaking village of Malinowka, Lublin district, Poland on February 15, 1923, the second son of Wilhelm (Bill) and Wanda Bucholtz. His father had been in the Russian Army in the First World War, and his mother and her family endured horrific experiences during the war. A few years after Art’s birth, Bill Bucholtz became convinced that war was likely to ravage Europe again, so he moved his family to Canada in 1927.

This grain elevator in Waldron, Saskatchewan has seen better days. The photo was taken in February, 2017. My grandparents lived in Waldron shortly after coming to Canada in 1927. They moved to B.C. in 1934.


They came to Saskatchewan, living in Waldron and Melville. None of them spoke a word of English when they arrived, but they were among other German-speaking people and Bill soon learned to communicate in English. Older brother Ed, Art and younger brother Fred, all born in Poland, learned English when they went to school.

When the Depression and drought hit in 1929 and 1930, they were left with almost nothing. Wanda said on more than one occasion “Why did we come to this godforsaken country?”

Four more children, Olga, Ida, Alec and Alf, were born while they were in Saskatchewan. In 1934, encouraged by friends who had come to B.C., they trekked west, in an old car with at least 10 people aboard and few possessions. One memorable occasion was near Nelson, when the vehicle lost its brakes and Bill steered it into the side of the mountain to avoid going over an embankment. From then on, Wanda and the children got out at the top of each hill and walked down.

They settled in South Surrey, at first living in a chicken house on the Rothe farm (where Wal-Mart now stands on 24 Avenue). Bill and Wanda soon bought a 10-acre farm nearby for $100, with $10 down and a $10 annual payment. Many other German-speaking families settled in that area.

They got involved in a new church, Zion Lutheran in Cloverdale, which became an important part of their lives. Bill and his older sons worked at everything they could – harvesting firewood and shingle bolts from logged-off areas, raising cows and chickens, and trading horses. The entire family travelled to Chilliwack to pick hops, and Bill worked on public works projects in Surrey.

When the war Bill had predicted broke out in 1939, Ed soon joined the army. Fred lied about his age and joined the navy. Wanda didn’t want Art to join up, and he worked for a time logging in Haida Gwaii (then known as the Queen Charlottes). However, he was likely to get drafted so he joined the Irish Fusiliers, a Vancouver army regiment.

Art Bucholtz (left) with his good friend James (Jim) Munro, as pipers with the Canadian Army headquarters band in De Hague, Netherlands in May, 1945. Jim encouraged Art to join the pipe band and it was a life-changing experience. Dad and I, and Jim and his son John, enjoyed reliving those days at many Remembrance Day lunches at local watering holes, until Jim's passing in 2010.

He was with the regiment in a number of locations in Canada and abroad. While in Jamaica in 1944, where they were assigned to guard German POWs, he was encouraged by his friend Jim Munro to take up the bagpipes. This changed his life in the army and afterwards. He became a part of the regiment’s pipe band. He and Jim became part of the Canadian Army headquarters pipe band, which played in the victory parade in Amsterdam and many other places in both Great Britain and the continent. One memorable place they played was at the Vimy Memorial in France, which had been completed in 1936 - just three years before the next war broke out.Vimy Ridge is the location of what was probably the most important battle in Canadian history in 1917, and Art was very proud to have been there to honour the Canadian forces who gave so much in the Second World War, and in the First World War. The earlier war was such an important reason why his family moved to Canada .
He continued to play the bagpipes for many years and loved the sights and sounds of a military band.

His service in the Second World War became more and more important to him in recent years, and he proudly took part in a Remembrance Day service at his home in Fort Langley the day before he died.

After his discharge, Art, Fred and Norm Moore started Venus Cleaners in Cloverdale, and Art found a new calling as a salesman – picking up and delivering cleaning all over Surrey and Langley. He and Norm later sold the business, and Norm soon bought it back. It continues to be run by the Moore family today.

This photo of Art was taken at or near the time of his marriage to Lynn Woolard on Dec. 29, 1951. It was in a prominent place in our home as we were growing up and has always been one of my favourites.

Art briefly sold cars, then started Cloverdale Sporting Goods in Cloverdale, in a building next to the cleaners, and soon had customers all over Surrey. He also had to deal with some significant family issues, as Lynn became seriously ill and was confined to hospital for a lengthy period. This meant he was on his own to manage his business and the care of his two young children.
Around this time, he also found a new calling as a “fisher of men.” Pastor Les Gierach of Zion Lutheran, on hearing that Art had started a Sunday morning fishing club for kids (to sell more fishing tackle, of course), asked him about “fishing for men.” He soon became deeply involved with the church, its purchase of a 9.5-acre property at 179 Street and 60 Avenue for a school and eventually its establishment of Zion Park Manor, a seniors home. He also served on many church boards at local and national levels. In later years, he and Lynn were active members at Walnut Grove Lutheran Church.

Art met Lynn Woolard on the White Rock pier on June 15,1951, and they were married on a snowy day, Dec. 29, 1951, at Lynn's parents' home on Sierra Drive in North Burnaby. The house where they were married still stands, and several years ago I drove them there to see it from the outside.
Art and Lynn had four children. Son Frank was born in 1953, daughter Holly in 1955, son Stuart in 1959 and daughter Laurel in 1961.

They bought 2.5 acres under Veterans Land Act legislation and built a new house on Thomas Road (182 Street) in Cloverdale, where all the children grew up. Art loved the property and spent a lot of time planting gardens, raising cattle and other livestock, clearing brush and building bonfires.

He and Lynn, who was a partner in all his business ventures after their marriage, ran the sporting goods business until 1963, establishing a White Rock store as well. While in business in Cloverdale, he was involved with many community organizations, including the board of trade and the Jaycees.

He then became a realtor, and thoroughly enjoyed helping people buy homes, farms and investment properties. He worked for Hilltop Agencies in Whalley and then for Rothnie Realty in Newton, where he enjoyed a good relationship with owners Gordon Rothnie and Earl Stewart. Many of his real estate clients he’d met through past business ventures, and he had many repeat clients over close to 30 years in the business. Later on when son Stuart entered the real estate business, Art worked with him and mentored him in the business, with them both working at Mitten Realty in Langley. Grandson Solon, as well as his brother Alec, also took up real estate.

The listing and selling of properties led Art, Lynn and a number of business partners including George and Edna Scott, Ken and Esther Holmes and Gene and Nada Renner to get involved in a number of real estate investments. In some cases, these came about as the result of a sale that Art had put together which collapsed because the buyer was unable to close. These included properties in Newton (one of which is now the site of Costco) and another in Aldergrove (where a townhouse complex stands).
In later years, Art, Lynn and Stuart also invested in mortgages and real estate together. Stuart says of this time: "(Those were) important, deep and ongoing involvements with Mom and Dad. That relationship afforded me the great intimacy to develop a much deeper personal relationship with both Mom and Dad as adults and business partners and deep friends."

Art and Lynn invested in mortgages for many years. This led to involvement and friendship with Bill Granleese and his family, who operate Antrim Investments in Fort Langley. Art served on the board of several mortgage investment corporations (MICs). Art cherished the friendships he made through these investment activities to his final day.

My parents Art and Lynn enjoyed each other's company for more than 66 years. This was a delightful photo of them on their 65th anniversary last December.

Art and Lynn became deeply involved in Marriage Encounter and encouraged hundreds of couples to rekindle their relationships through weekend seminars. They worked hard to promote healthy marriages where communication was made much easier through well-tested techniques.

Art was a founding director of Lutheran Life Insurance Society of Canada (now FaithLife Financial), a volunteer with Langley Hospice, and travelled to Mexico, Great Britain and Ireland with Campus Crusade (now Power to Change).

Art had a servant’s heart, with a smile on his face and a big hug for all. He was the most welcoming greeter at church, and often followed up with hosting visitors to a pancake lunch at his home. He also enjoyed beating his family members in cribbage games, eating fresh garden produce, reading his Bible every night, and trusting each day to the Lord. He was ready to go to heaven years ago, but he stuck around long enough to keep sharing his wisdom, and to be confident that his dear wife would be okay without his daily presence.

He loved to spend time with his family. In 1990, Art and Lynn bought a beachfront home in Osoyoos, which became a treasured summer retreat. Family members and many friends visited them there, and Art grew a huge garden and enjoyed having many fruit trees. He never could pass by a tree with fresh fruit on it – a holdover of his Depression-era time in Saskatchewan. He always marvelled at all the fresh fruit in B.C. He took up windsurfing, and played golf and tennis. His grandchildren fondly remember the early-morning fruit smoothies he made and the adventures on the water.

In 2005, he and daughter Laurel Glanfield went to the 60^th anniversary of V-E Day in the Netherlands. It was unforgettable for both of them. They met relatives in Germany whom Art had never known, as they had been behind the iron curtain until German reunification, and visited Lynn’s aunt Vera, a Canadian war bride who moved to Scotland after the war with her husband Bill.

He remained active and in good health until the last few years, when old age finally caught up with him. By this time Lynn had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and they moved to a cottage at Laurel and Steve’s Langley farm in 2012. Laurel and Steve took very good care of them, almost always having dinner with them and driving them to various places after Art could no longer drive. This move allowed Art and Lynn to live with independence and dignity in their cozy cottage for almost three years, until Lynn moved into Simpson Manor in Fort Langley in 2015. After she moved there, Art visited her almost every day.
Laurel or Steve, other family members, their wonderful caregiver Susan Llavore or HandyDart provided almost-daily transportation. He was always very grateful to everybody for their help, and he loved using HandyDart, especially when my friend Brian Peters was the driver. Stuart, Holly and I and many of our children also visited them frequently at Simpson. They were delighted when a grandchild would visit, and even more delighted if a great-grandchild came along to visit. They both loved family life and treasured getting to know the third generation of their descendants.
Over the past winter, Art made many trips back and forth while it was snowing heavily. I drove him on several occasions during that time. I was amazed at how calmly he took the unseasonal (for the\Fraser Valley) weather. On one occasion, the snow and wind almost blew him into his house - but he was always so happy to have spent the day with Lynn.
The staff at Simpson Manor got to know him very well during this time and he almost always had lunch and dinner with Lynn. They thoroughly enjoyed their time together and often just sat together, holding hands.
He moved there full-time in April and thoroughly enjoyed living there. The staff provided excellent care to both Art and Lynn, and they also received assistance from their own caregiver Susan. She has assisted them since they were living on the farm. She gave them much love, care and attention.
My brother Stuart said after his passing that he felt Dad (Art) was given his final seven and one-half months at Simpson in order that he could peacefully depart this world, certain that Lynn would be well cared-for. She is, and she will be.

Art and Lynn often said they had been overwhelmingly blessed by their business ventures, both financially and relationally. They gave away much of the money they made, helping innumerable charities. They set up a foundation, the Arlin Foundation, so that the bulk of their remaining funds could be used in perpetuity, with annual interest going  to help non-profit charitable organizations, particularly smaller ones without sophisticated fundraising arms.

He is survived by his loving wife Lynn; their four children and their spouses: Frank (Bonnie), Holly Stermshnig (Peter), Stuart (Barb) and Laurel Glanfield (Steve). Their 12 grandchildren were very special to them: Arthur Glauser (Rita), Natalia Glauser (Blake), Amanda Takawira, Lauren Boehm (Jeremy), Solon Bucholtz (Michelle), Ivan Glauser, Jordan Glanfield (Farrah), Andrew Bucholtz (Lisa), Joel Glanfield (Kelsey), Christina Bucholtz (Uzodima), Frazer Bucholtz and Vera Bucholtz.

They also have 10 great-grandchildren.

Art is also survived by his sister Olga LaCouvee and brother Alf Bucholtz and his wife Mary, as well as Lynn’s brother Jack Woolard and his wife Ollie, and sisters Patsy Douglas and husband Ralph and Carol Bell and husband Darryl, and 27 nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by his cousin Harri Lokstein in Berlin and extended family in Scotland.

My father Art and I had many good conversations over the past 60-plus years. It was such a blessing to have had so much time with him. Here we are chatting at his and Mom's 65th anniversary celebration last December.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will take place on Friday, Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 5950 179 Street, Surrey. It will be followed immediately by a lunch and reception at Langley Golf Centre, 4343 216 Street, Langley from 12 to 3 p.m. This is designed to be a party and celebration of both Art's life and his certainty of an eternal future in Heaven. In Irish terms (and he was a member of the Irish Fusiliers), it will be a wake.
Art’s many friends, business and charitable associates and family members are invited to attend one or both events.There will be an opportunity to share memories, see a slide show of his life, all while enjoying a good lunch and a pint.

Donations in Art’s memory can be made to the Arlin Foundation, The People’s Foundation of Sierra Leone (started by his granddaughter Christina), the Alzheimer Society of B.C. or a charity of the giver’s choice. The People’s Foundation provides educational scholarships for youth in Sierra Leone, and Art and Lynn were early supporters. Christina has a great story about the first cheque she got from them for the People's Foundation, which I am encouraging her to share at the wake.

Many memories of Art have already been shared online, via cards and through personal conversations with friends and family members. His grandson Solon expressed Art’s life very well – “Grandpa’s life was his 29 hand.”

His nephew Bill Thoreson said that Art spent so much of his life giving away parts of his heart that, at the end, it was almost all gone.

Reg Renner, son of his longtime friends Gene and Nada Renner, said in an email to the family "He was a man of many talents and charms, but most of all he was a tower of strength. He was a friendly smile and handshake at the front door of Zion and he was a brave and visionary leader at Zion during our childhood. He was rock solid and steadfast and even stubborn at times, but he was a Patriarch. A man who withstood the test of the Depression and World War II and yet never complained about his lot in life. Maybe he was just happy to be alive and yet not only did he survive, he thrived and was an incredible successful man. He was a Patriarch, a man of strength and vision and people were drawn to him. He will be greatly missed, but what a mentor, example and teacher."

Other memories of Art can be sent to bucholtzmemories@gmail.com