Walter Harry Barkman

WALTER HARRY BARKMAN Aged 85, died in peace Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Guelph General Hospital, his loving family was with him. Born in Tokushi, Siberia, April 23, 1923, his German Mennonite family fled Russia in 1929 settling in Kitchener. On the train leaving Moscow were his mother Katharina and brothers and sisters: Alice, Katie, and Martha Friesen and Agatha, John and David Barkman. Captain Walter (Wally) Barkman served with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in WWII fighting in France in Caen and Falaise; through Flanders and the Scheldt in Belgium and into the Netherlands. He was wounded leading B Company into the Hochwald forest in Germany. He returned near war's end and rode into Berlin to the Chancellery. He was awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with Palm and Croix de Guerre with Palm. Walter kept Mabel Ellen Branton's picture throughout the war marrying her on June 29, 1946. It was a true love story. Graduating in Business at Western he worked for Brantford Roofing, Domtar and Dominion Bridge as a sales manager. He is survived by his wife; great-grandchildren Paisley and Colby; grandchildren Tom, Jamie, Aiden, Claire, Ryan and Tianna; and children Nick Barkman (wife Diane), Randy Barkman (wife Jenny), Diane Warren (husband Don) and Ellen Stanley (husband Stephen). A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 21, 3 p.m. at St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church, 19 St. Alban's Drive, Acton, Ontario.