Chapter 7.4.2

Almeda Lizette Quanz

By Dorrell Walter Boles

Gordon Cornelius Walter, second child and son of Henry and Annie (Schneider) Walter, was born on May 30, 1898 at the Walter home on Lot 28, Concession 7 of Wallace Township. He attended Public School at S.S. #7 Wallace. The family worshipped at the 6^th Line Zion Evangelical Church. On March 17, 1909 the family moved to a farm on Lot 26, Concession 5 of Wallace Township. Gordon and his father cleared and ploughed some of the virgin land. During the winter months he cut trees in many different woodlots in Wallace Township. Gordon also joined the Walter Brothers Threshing crew, and hauled milk to the Marion Beaver Cheese factory for some years.

When the John Quanz family moved from Carrick to Wallace Township their niece Almeda Quanz was an occasional visitor on weekends. It was customary for the young people to attend church functions & services and later gather at someone’s home for fun and fellowship. It is believed Gordon and Almeda at one of these gatherings.

Gordon and Almeda (Quanz) Walter

Wedding Photograph

September 26, 1922

Gordon married Almeda Lizette Quanz on September 26, 1922 at the bride’s home. Almeda, daughter of Adam and Mary (Voelzing) Quanz, was born October 11, 1899, on the 14th of Carrick Township. After their honeymoon to Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York area, they returned to Wallace to live with Gordon's parents on the farm.

During the mid-to-late 1920's Gordon helped with grading and hauling of gravel in preparation for the paving of Highway 23 which ran alongside the farm. Almeda and Annie helped cook meals for some of the workmen. Gordon was also a dealer for C.I.L. and National Fertilizer Companies for some years. Gordon^’s hobby was woodworking, while Almeda enjoyed quilting. She made a quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed crocheting and crafts.

They sold their farm in 1963 and resided in the new house they had built on the northeast corner of the farm. They celebrated their 5Oth Wedding Anniversary in September 1972. Their immediate family honoured their 55th Wedding Anniversary in September 1977 with a family dinner in Kitchener. They had enjoyed 14 years together at this home, with gardening being a favourite pastime.

Almeda passed away at Palmerston hospital December 19, 1977, having been hospitalized for only three days. Gordon continued living in the country for a few years, later moving to a senior residence in Palmerston. After being hospitalized in Palmerston Hospital late in 1986, he was transferred to a nursing home for a few weeks. Being hospitalized again for a few days, Gordon passed away on February 24, 1987. Both are buried at the 6^th-line Wallace Cemetery, one crossroad west of Highway 23.

W-130 - Gordon Walter - 1973

Children of Gordon Walter and Almeda Quanz are;

1. Ivan Weldon Walter - Born Mar. 5, 1929 in Wallace Township, Ontario. He married Audrey Self on Sep. 6, 1949. She was the daughter of William Self and his wife Elva Fleet. Audrey was born July 27, 1928. They lived for a few years on Highway #87 west of Harriston, later moving to Harriston, where Ivan was employed with Canada Packers. In 1973 they moved to their new house in Palmerston. Ivan was in charge of the maintenance department of Palmerston General Hospital; Audrey was working at the Palmerston nursing home.

Children of Ivan Walter and Audrey Self are:

a. Wayne Walter - Born Mar. 23, 1948 in Listowel, Ontario. He graduated with a B. A. degree from Western University, London Ontario

b. Bruce Walter - Born Sep. 6, 1950, Harriston, Ontario. He married (1) Heather Reading on Sep. 3, 1973. He married (2) Beverley Leith on Dec. 20, 1997.

Children of Bruce Walter and Heather Reading are:

i. Angela Lorraine Walter

ii. Nicholas Bruce Ivan Walter

Child of Bruce Walter and Beverley Leith is:

i. Rebecca Ann Walter

c. Larry Walter - Born Oct. 3, 1954. Larry died as a result of a car accident on Oct. 4, 1972. He is buried in Harriston Cemetery, Harriston, Ontario.

d. Diane Walter - She married John Ballantyne.

Children of Diane Walter and John Ballantyne are:

i. Stacey Ballantyne

ii. Matthew Ballantyne

iii. Ashley Ballantyne

e. Barbara Walter - She married Christopher Wakeford.

Child of Barbara Walter and Christopher Wakeford is:

i. Joshua Rayvan Christoph Wakeford

Ivan and Audrey Walter - 25th Anniversary

Sep 1972

W-120

2. Ila Dorrell Walter, daughter of Gordon and Almeda (Quanz) Walter, was born at home on November 22, 1933. She attended S.S. # 7 Wallace Public School, and joined the 6^th Line Zion Evangelical Church. During her teen years she worked part time at Moore's Produce and Listowel Produce. She was active in the 4H Homemaking clubs and was awarded County honours for a sewing course with a week in Toronto for sightseeing. At an Achievement Day program for over 200 girls from Perth County, she received “Provincial Honours as Outstanding Girl” and was awarded a trip to Chicago to attend the 4H Club Congress. After attending Listowel High School, she took a Secretarial Course at Lougheed Business College in Kitchener, where the Faculty and Students chose her as College Queen. She graduated in 1954 and was employed at Canada Health & Accident Insurance Company for seven years.

Dorrell met Kenneth Earl Boles in 1960 and they were married on September 23, 1961 at Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church on the 6^th Line of Wallace Township. Ken, born March 21, 1934, was the first son of Earl and Laura (Spicer) Boles of near Fergus. After their marriage they lived on Chapel Street and in May 1963 moved to their present home on Peachwood Court in Kitchener. Dorrell worked at the Kitchener Waterloo Hospital Admitting Department until their first son Chris was born in 1964. A second son Duane was born in 1966. Later Dorrell was a craft vendor at Kitchener Market for 10 years. She was a part time Tour Director from 1986, for 7 years, taking 4,773 passengers on bus tours over 263,440 miles across Canada and the United States.

Ken helped on their 100-acre firm on Lot 29, Concession 2, of Eramosa Township. He joined Speedside United Church. He and his brother Cliff attended S.S. #4 1/2 Eramosa Public School, where he also helped as caretaker. During the teen years and for many of the following years he had an orchestra called “The Rhythmaires”. Their music was heard in many parts of Wellington, Waterloo and Dufferin Counties. Ken played several instruments but his favorite was the saxophone and he played it beautifully. That music was enjoyed by many until the mid 1960s. His sons Chris and Duane formed a church band and Ken played with them. On rare occasions three generations of Boles played in that band.

After graduating from Fergus High School, he enrolled in a home study course in Electronics and completed this at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago graduating in 1955. He enrolled at Radio College of Canada in Toronto, graduating on February 13, 1957. For nine years be was employed at Peffer Sound Systems, Kitchener, then joined the Sales Team of special products at Marsland Engineering in 1966. He travelled to various parts of Ontario, Quebec and the United States. He served on the Executive Committee for the Industrial Management Club for Kitchener Waterloo Area for several years. In December1969 Ken started his own business "A-V Communications of Kitchener, contractors of Sound and Video Systems. Dorrell continued to help him with the office work until Ken closed his business and retired in 2009.

The Boles family was active in various areas at St. James Rosemount Church. For several years Ken served as President of the Men’s Club. He was Manager and assisted in coaching the Young Boys soccer teams for a few years. In 1983 the family joined Hope Lutheran Church, where Ken served as trustee. He, along with son Chris, plays in the Church Worship band. Dorrell helps with the missions work and occasionally with Sunday School children, who have dubbed her as Grandma Boles.

To celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary Ken & Dorrell took a trip to the Canadian West Coast. On officially becoming senior citizens, their family surprised them with hot-air balloon rides, which they enjoyed immensely on Aug 23, 1999. Music caught his interest again, and he also enjoyed viewing NASA space flights and their activities on TV. Dorrell became interested in oil painting. Ken and Dorrell enjoyed 53 years together in their Kitchener home. Ken passed away on Sep. 1, 2014.

Children of Dorrell Walter and Ken Boles are;

a. Christopher Michael Boles was born at K W Hospital, Kitchener Ontario. Chris graduated from Grand River High School in 1982, an honour student receiving a Math Award, and the Proficiency Award. He continued his education with an Electronic Engineering Technology computer systems course for three years, graduating in 1985. Since then he has been employed at 5D Computer Company in Waterloo in technical support and later became service manager.

Though Chris and Wendy knew each other at High School, friendship grew during the Youth Program at Hope Lutheran Church in Kitchener. Wendy Caroline Horman graduated from Grand River High School in 1982, and was employed as a Computer Programmer and later as a typesetter at a printing company.

Chris and Wendy were married at Hope Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario. They have two daughters; Kira Ann and Chelsea Summer at Kitchener Waterloo Hospital in Kitchener. Wendy became fulltime wife and mother. She home-schooled their daughters Kira and Chelsea.

Wendy enjoys gardening and sewing. She has made lovely clothes for her daughters. Chris enjoys sports, computers, and music. The family is active at Hope Lutheran Church, where Chris plays drums in the Worship Band. Wendy and Chris assisted in leading the youth group at Hope too. Kira graduated from university and Conestoga College and is employed with Care Partners working in the office and helping to arrange Home Care. Chelsea specializes in baking and decorating beautiful cakes, etc. - truly a work of art.

b. Duane Evan Boles was born at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario. He and his brother Chris enjoyed playing hockey and soccer for several years. After graduating from Grand River High School in 1984, he enrolled at Conestoga College for a Business Administration Course. He also worked part time at a service station, Long John Silver’s, and Christian Horizons Home. Duane then took a three-year course at Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener and graduated in the spring of 1991.

Anita Joy Gingerich graduated from South Huron District High School in Exeter. Anita was employed in the Accounting Department of Jet Transport Company in Cambridge. Duane and Anita met in l987 at a Youth Rally at Stanley Park Brethren in Christ Church. Anita was playing keyboard in the band that night and Duane enjoyed conversation with the band members after the service.

Duane and Anita were married at Zurich Mennonite Church in Zurich, Ontario. For several years Duane and Anita were youth leaders at Hope Lutheran Church and were instrumental in forming the Worship Band. Duane occasionally played bass, Anita the keyboards, Chris on drums and their friends on guitars. Anita also taught Sunday School too. They moved to their home on Hill St. in 1993.

Duane worked with Family and Children’s Services for several years. His education at Emmanuel Bible College was a great benefit when he was in the ministry, missions and music at Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo, Ontario. Anita is the Chief Finance & Operations Officer at Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener. She also has been a part-time instructor of Introduction to Financial Accounting and Simply Accounting at Conestoga College.

Their family consists of son Tyler Cole Ahren and daughter Eden Olivia Lynne at Kitchener Waterloo Hospital in Kitchener. The family was active in various programs and worship at Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo. Duane played in a band “Louder Than Words” for several years. His education at Emmanuel Bible College was a great benefit when he was in the ministry, missions and music at Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo, Ontario. Eden and Tyler are in university.

Cancer claimed Duane’s life in September 2015. An award in his honor was presented by Family Services in 2016.

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