Henry Streu

Henry Streu passed away on Sunday, November 21, 2021. Henry was born on July 7, 1939, an ethnic German living in Poland.   As a young child he was exposed to much of the worst the world has to offer. He was born just months before Hitler's brutal invasion of Poland, and, after six years of war, fell behind the Iron Curtain in Stalin's Eastern Europe.   Life was hard, and for a time the entire family was interned in a forced labour camp, leaving Henry and his siblings severely malnourished.  Seeking a better life, the family eventually fled to the West in the 1950's.  

The Streu family came to settle in Canada, where he and his older brothers established a drywall contracting and real estate partnership in Edmonton.   Within a few short years, the Streu brothers were well on the road to that better life.   In 1967, Henry married a lovely young German woman, Elli, a woman that he remained very much in love with for the next 54 years.   Soon Ramona and Norm were born, and his family was complete.   In the mid-1970's the young family moved to Victoria, where Henry went into business on his own.   He enjoyed over 20 years of contented retirement with his Elli, neither of them ever seeming to grow tired of the daily gift of each other's loving companionship.     During these years, he provided regular entertainment for his four grandchildren, Jayden, Rachel, Sasha and Jack, who always cherished their time with their beloved Opa.   And never losing his wanderlust, he continued to persuade a cautious Elli to join him in adventure after adventure around the world.

What was special about Henry?   So many things.   He was an exceedingly generous man.   Through life-long donations to Operation Eyesight, thousands of people around the world have the gift of sight because of his generosity.   Through his countless life-long blood donations, many have the gift of life.   He gave his time as well, for many years regularly delivering meals to the elderly, always with a gentle smile.  He was an exceptionally honest, skilled and humble businessperson.   For over thirty years he ran the family's business in a spirit of kindness and genuine service to others.   He was a quietly spiritual man, who was serious about his faith, yet approached it with humility.   He had a one-of-a-kind wit that remained with him to the end -- to Elli's never-ending delight.   He was a decent, gentle man, an exceptional father, grandfather and husband, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry’s name may be made to Operation Eyesight.