Doris Martha Kiesenwetter

Doris was born in Frankfurt Germany, middle child of 3. She grew up in between WW1 & WW2 and remembered well the air raid sirens and drills. 

She worked in a smoke shop in her early teens, which is where she met Oskar, her future husband. They married young and had their first daughter Rita, in 1951. 

Doris worked for the German Post Office, until the young family made the big move to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1957. Once in Canada Doris worked in a local bakery. 

In 1958 the family grew adding a son, Thomas, and in 1960 a daughter Michele. 

Following good friends that moved to BC, Oskar & Doris moved their family of 5 as well, to Surrey BC in 1964, and spent 9 years there. Doris joined TOPS while in Surrey and loved the club, and was a very successful member, travelling to the US with a friend, for a trip through TOPS. She developed a love for walking, that she enjoyed up to the end of her life. 

In the early 70’s a trucking job took Oskar to Bralorne to move the families out when the gold mine closed. He came to love the area and found a house for sale on Gunn Lake in a photograph and bought it sight unseen for $25,000.00. This was a total surprise for the family, and in 1973 they moved from Surrey to the house on Gunn Lake with wood heat, propane lights, propane fridge, and water was carried by hand from the lake for the first year. 

These were happy years for Oskar and Doris. Doris worked in the Goldbridge Hotel for 30 years doing housekeeping and bar tending, she loved the summers when their grandchildren would come and spend their summer vacations learning how to waterski, swim, and winters spent snowmobiling. Their garden was always abundant, Doris canned all summer, the hummingbirds came by the dozens and Doris made sure they were always fed. 

2003 brought concerns to be closer to a hospital and family, so they moved to Armstrong. Doris joined the local Curves, and it became her happy place where she often was parked and waiting early in the morning before the doors were even open. She made many friends, even going on a cruise in 2015 with a group of the Curves ladies. Doris and Oskar continued their love of gardening and canning – as fast as Oskar could pick the vegetables, Doris would be preserving them. 

Doris was known for her delicious German cheesecakes which were a staple at every special occasion, and her German Christmas cookies are still the best ever, being rationed out to family members at Christmas. 

Doris moved to Heaton Place in 2021, one year after being widowed, and lived there for three years. She was known for her sassy sense of humour, and willingness to help her fellow residents at mealtimes. She was a regular at Bingo and loved knitting and made hundreds of squares for the blankets over the years. She also made a special friend in Alvin, who brought sparkle back into her life for a season. 

Doris endured discomfort for a very short time and was spared a lengthy illness and passed away peacefully.

She will be deeply missed.

Doris was predeceased by Oskar, her husband of 69 years, and leaves behind daughter Rita Shukin, granddaughter Lia Schoenroth & family, son Thomas (Dayle) Kiesenwetter, grandson Brian Kiesenwetter & family, grandson Darryl Kiesenwetter & family, daughter Michele Heximer, granddaughter Nisa Heximer & family, and her special long-time friend from ’the lake’ Donna Grant. 

The family of Doris wish to sincerely thank Nellie, from across the hall, the entire staff at Heaton Place, every one of you are so special and always went above and beyond, you truly have created a family at Heaton. 

We would also like to thank the staff at VJH for making Doris’s last week as comfortable as possible. 

Thank you to Dr Kutsche for the years of care for Doris. 

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-546-7237

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: