Ingerun Jeske

In Loving Memory of Ingerun Jeske

Born June 17, 1933 in Berlin, Germany, Ingerun Jeske passed away after a short hospitalization on November 7, 2024, in Victoria, BC. She spent her early years in Weinmeister Hoehe, near Spandau, Germany. During the war, her family moved to Stolpmuende (now Utska) to escape the frequent bombings in Berlin and to be closer to their father, who was stationed there. They fled from the advancing Russian Army in 1945 and eventually settled in Esslingen near Stuttgart, Germany.

Ingerun had an adventurous spirit and made the decision to emigrate to Canada and arrived in Halifax in October 1951, at the age of 18, along with her brother Sigi. They made the journey to Halifax on the Conte Bianco Mano, departing from Naples Italy. The crossing was in near hurricane force winds which she took in stride as part of the experience. She worked as an au pair for a German diplomat's family in Ottawa before moving to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she met her future husband, Konrad. They married in 1957 and during the early years they lived/worked at Mount Baldy Ski Hill. She in ticket sales and he on developing the hill, maintaining the chairlift and grooming the runs. They continued to be active ski club members for many years, teaching their children as well as their children's friends the joy of skiing.

They went on to build their own home where they raised their two daughters Heidi and Christina. She worked hard to create a cheerful home where all of the Beckwick Road neighbourhood children felt welcome. During these years Ingerun became an excellent gardener and is remembered for her large vegetable garden and beautiful flower beds. She also became a skilled seamstress and knitter. Always willing to embrace new experiences, she took advantage of the opportunity to learn to sail together with her daughters, inviting their friends to participate as well.

Ingerun was an active member of the German Canadian Association in Thunder Bay for many years and volunteered at the FIS World Cup of Ski Jumping, providing german translation at the televised competitions and helping to organize international delegations of coaches and athletes. She travelled to Europe with the organizing committee in 1980.

She worked in many different jobs during her time in Thunder Bay ranging from cashier, secretary, driving instructor to sales manager. She was always keen to learn new skills and to continue to develop herself.

She loved to travel near and far and enjoyed learning about different cultures and meeting people from all over the globe. Retirement saw Ingerun and Konrad moving to Victoria BC. where she continued to be a source of love and strength for her family. She was a devoted grandmother to not just her grandchildren, Katarina, Tristan and Ava Alexander and Konrad, Sean and Nelson McQuilter, but also to their friends. She was fondly called “Oma” by young and old alike.

Ingerun was an immense support to her daughter Christina and son-in-law Anthony after the tragic diagnosis and subsequent death of Katarina aged 3, due to an inoperable brain tumour and later, the devastating death of Tristan, who died suddenly in a snowboarding accident at aged 21 in 2021.

Ingerun's playful, joyful, and curious spirit taught young and old to be observant of the tiniest magical things around us. She loved life and always tried to be as positive as possible even when faced with immense challenges. She was someone you could count on and throughout her life, she engaged and contributed to the communities she was a part of. In her later years, she stayed connected to the world and her loved ones through Facebook.

Her beautiful sparkle will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Ingerun was predeceased by her husband Konrad Jeske, brothers Gunther Wolfram Weber, Sigi (Christian) Weber, and Giselher Weber, as well as her grandchildren Katarina Alexander and Tristan Alexander.

Survived by daughters Heidi Jeske-McQuilter, Christina Alexander (Jeske), brother Armin Weber and grandchildren Ava Alexander, Konrad, Sean and Nelson McQuilter.

A celebration of Ingerun's life will be held in the Summer of 2025.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Help Fill A Dream foundation of Vancouver Island.