Wolfgang Karl Beimen

Wolfgang Karl Beimen

April 25, 1937 – December 7, 2024

In the early morning of December 7, 2024, Wolfgang “Wolfi” or “Wolfimann” (affectionately called by his wife) Karl Beimen passed away peacefully and comfortably at his home under the care of his loving wife, supported by the compassionate Hospice Team for the last five days of his life. Wolfgang was 87 years.

Wolfgang is predeceased by his parents and survived by Dagmar, his beloved wife and best friend through thick and thin for 57 years, his sister Marlies, nephews and niece, cousin, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law in Germany.

Wolfgang was born in Moenchengladbach, Germany to Karl and Bertha Beimen. Being born in 1937 wasn’t a good year to start life in Germany with the clouds of WWII on the horizon. By the time Wolfgang started grade school, he had experienced more dangers, catastrophes and misery than most people will in a lifetime. This - and the aftermath of this calamity - did shape his formative years in unpredictable ways. From a run-a-away without little formal education ….to being one of the very first soldiers of the Bundeswehr in 1954, followed by a stint in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria and years of roaming the world on a mission of opportunity and adventure, - his prospects for living a conventional life seemed slim indeed. He arrived in Canada in 1966 in Toronto with five Dollars in his pocket, and nothing to his name. But as fate would have it, in his late twenties - and just prior to his departure as immigrant to Canada - he met a young girl in Bremen, Germany, nine years his junior, who a year later decided to follow him to Canada. They got married and worked hard. Wolfgang was never short of ideas on how to achieve his ultimate goal. Being a perfectionist, he was quite specific about the final outcome of the projects undertaken. Wolfgang was an avid reader and well versed in world affairs with in-depth historical backgrounds. He occupied his mind with futuristic ideas, visions and concepts. He joined the Victoria Flying Club in the late 70s, and enjoyed flying for pleasure in those early years. He and his wife are both animal lovers, and are members of various organizations which fight for the ethical treatment of animals.

Wolfgang worked in many different positions and capacities. He easily adapted to any challenge being faced with. His hoisting Engineer license from Germany landed him a job as a Crane Operator in Toronto. Following this he was partner in a Driving School. After moving to Freelton, Ontario he drove a city bus in Hamilton, Ontario until in 1970 he decided that it was time to leave the cold winters and head west. Wolfgang and Dagmar with their first cat did just that with their “House on wheels”, a 28 ft. Holiday Rambler Trailer in which they had been living since 1968 to avoid having to pay rent. Arriving in B.C., they initially settled in Surrey where Wolfgang proved himself again as the top salesperson at Singers, and where he was promoted to Manager only a short time later. Again in 1973, Wolfgang felt the urge to move on ending up in Victoria where after living in their beautiful house on a two-acre waterfront property on Cooper’s Cove in Sooke from 1975-93, they moved into one of the apartments of their investment properties. After retiring early from DND in Esquimalt, Wolfgang and his wife Dagmar crisscrossed the US and Canada first in their 1967 MCI motorhome, and since 2004 in their 45 ft. Prevost Liberty Coach spending a few months on their lot at The Great Outdoor in Titusville, Florida. He also had the opportunity to visit with family living in Germany and revisiting the past in 1987, and again during a Europe trip in 2003. Wolfgang had a knack for writing and found much joy in writing essays about his adventures and travels. Things abruptly changed owing to the Covid pandemic which prevented him from pursuing his passion for globetrotting.

In March of 2022, Wolfgang was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and after a three-month hospital stay he was unable to walk. After acquiring all the necessary equipment at home, Dagmar decided to become Wolfgang’s full-time caregiver with some help from Island Health who visited the home regularly because of a wound on Wolfgang’s foot.

His wife, Dagmar would like to extend her thanks for the support of the wonderful team of the Esquimalt Westshore Health Unit who were always willing to help and answer any questions and concerns during this difficult time. She would like to mention just a few names like Diana, Occupational Therapist, Lyndsey, our case worker, and the knowledgeable and compassionate team of nurses Lea, Gesha, Lara, Kirsten, Sunita, Lenz, Cindy and especially Wolfgang’s primary Nurse Sam. She also would like to thank Penny and Jeannie from Van Isle Home Care who looked after Wolfgang’s care for the first challenging months after being released from hospital in 2022.

Wolfgang Karl Beimen will be deeply missed by his loving wife, and by those who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be remembered and appreciated for his compassion, honesty, loyalty, generosity, resourcefulness, broad knowledge and good sense of humor. May “Wolfi” rest in peace. Always loved…never forgotten…forever missed.