Erwin Brenger Bourhofer

1931 - 2024

Erwin Brenger Bourhofer
11/08/1931 - 06/29/2024
Passed on 29 June 2024 at Whatcom Hospice House at approximately 1530 hours. He was a resident at Cordata Court Independent Living Cottages since 2006. He was born Erwin Bourhofer on 8 November 1931 in Offenbach am Main, Deutschland. Erwin took his mother's maiden name as his middle when he became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1987. His parents, Heinrich and Margerethe, moved their family to Babenhausen, Hesse during the allied bombing of the greater Frankfurt area during World War II. There, Erwin received a technical education while attending High School where he also studied English. At the end of the war, Erwin was employed at a nearby American Army installation repairing electronic equipment for the Post Exchange.
In 1955, Erwin immigrated to Canada and settled in the York community west of Toronto, Ontario where he was employed by an aerial survey company. His work took him to various parts of the world mapping and searching for minerals and energy resources. He operated the electronic equipment used for the aircraft work. In the early 1960s, his crew was assigned to a contract job in Gabon, a former French colony on the coast of central, west Africa. Having only just received its independence, Gabon had no Canadian diplomatic presence. So, the crew checked in with the newly established American Embassy where Erwin met his future wife, the former Mildred Olive Giblin who was part of the American Foreign Service.
Erwin and Millie were married at Saint Marks Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia near Washington DC on 28 December 1963. They stayed in Georgetown, DC with her namesake aunt while making arrangements for their new life together. Erwin gave up his Porsche and his flying career. Millie gave up her career in the Foreign Service and they moved to Waterloo, Ontario, also near Toronto, where Erwin studied Electrical Engineering and the newly established field of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. Millie's health suffered in the cool Canadian climate. So, although Erwin was not yet ready for graduation, they left Canada in 1968 in search of warmer weather. Their search took them to Houston, Texas where they lived for almost 40 years.
Erwin found employment in the oil industry, eventually developing software for fire suppression on oil rigs. His work took him to offshore rigs, including the North Sea, for installation of automated systems. In an era when the personal computer was in its infancy, Erwin became the company guru for decisions on office equipment. Millie became personal secretary to William P. Hobby Jr., businessman and longtime Lt. Governor of Texas.
Just after the millennium, Millie suffered a series of strokes that left her partially paralyzed. They shut down their longtime Houston home in 2006 and made their last trip together across the United States to Bellingham, Washington in order to be near her family. Erwin nursed Millie until she passed away in 2010. After her passing, Erwin took up photography and created a series of computerized documentary pieces that illustrated the various trips he had made with Millie and others after her passing. He celebrated his 90th birthday in 2021. He remained a healthy, active man until his recent fatal cancer diagnosis. We will miss him.
Erwin is preceded in death by his parents, brother Heinz, sister-in-law Irene (Wutscher), nephew Peter, niece Daniela, and nephew David Lee Geistlinger Sr. He is survived by his nephews; Bernd Bourhofer (Karin), Babenhausen, Hesse, FRG, Norman Douglas Lilyroth (Samran), Lummi Island, WA, Brian Adelbert Giblin, Portland, OR, Jeffery Mark Giblin, Troy, OH, Rory Cortice McKee (Angela), Ferndale, WA, Harry Hugo Geistlinger Jr., Gresham, OR, Donald Charles Geistlinger (Vicki), Portland, OR, Marlow Keith Geistlinger (Keli), Portland, OR; niece, Amanda Mckee Timmins (Patrick), Bellingham, WA; grand nieces, Sidney Joanne Bourhofer, Stuttgart, FRG, Angela Bourhofer, FRG, Britany Daniel Geistlinger, Newberg, OR, Kaylah Lynn Geistlinger, Vancouver, WA, Kristy Geistlinger Miller, Florence, OR; grand nephews, Frank Bourhofer, Babenhausen/Langstadt, Hesse, FRG, Allen R. Talman (Filicia), Ferndale, WA, Doug Eaglebear (Carrie), Molalla, OR, Joshua Michael Geistlinger, Portland, OR, Brandon Keith Geistlinger (Ranjita) Newberg, OR, Harlon Geistlinger, Zachery Lee Geistlinger (Theresa), Portland, OR, David Lee Geistlinger Jr. and numerous Grand-Grand and Grand-Grand-Grand nieces and nephews.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, July 10th, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. at Jerns Funeral Home 4131 Hannegan Rd Suite 106 Bellingham, WA 98226. A funeral service will be the following day, Thursday, July 11th, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Jerns Funeral Home. On Friday, July 12th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. burial will be held at Bayview City Cemetery, Bellingham, WA. On Saturday, July 13th, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. the family will hold a Memorial/Celebration of Life Service at Cordata Court 4415 Columbine Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226. Please sign the Book of Memories, light a candle and leave your condolences for the family at www.JernsFH.com