Obituary of Josef Gabert

To view the livestream, please click HERE.

Josef Gabert, born on September 1, 1931, in Beska, Serbia, between Novi Sad and Belgrade, lived a life marked by resilience and love. Growing up with six siblings— Maria, Christine, Rosa, Berta, Karl, and Edeltraud—he experienced the hardships of war. In 1945, his family fled through Hungary and the Czech Republic to northern Germany, settling in Braunschweig, where his sister Maria eventually made her home. The majority of the family moved to Tailfingen in southern Germany.

Josef found work on the Bosch family farm in Truchtelfingen, where he met and fell in love with Maria Bosch. They married on April 4, 1952, and were blessed with three children: Waltraud, born in 1953, Gerald, born in 1955, and Haijo, born in 1959. Throughout those years, Josef worked in a textile company on finishing machines, then as a truck driver, as a coach driver, where he got to see a lot of the world, and as a bus driver in the local company. "Sepp" became well known and liked by many. He enjoyed playing music, particularly the guitar, accordion, and harmonica.

In 1971, Josef emigrated to Canada with his wife and two sons, initially settling in Scarborough, Toronto. He worked in construction before taking a part-time job as a mechanic at Leaf Confections and selling and repairing vacuum cleaners for Electrolux. In 1975, the family moved to Waterloo, where they lived until his passing.

Over the years, the family grew with the addition of three granddaughters: Sabrina, born in 1983 to Waltraud and Hermann, and Jazzmine and Samantha, born in 1999 and 2004 to Katie and Haijo.

Josef retired at 63 and spent part of his free time playing tennis for the next 20 years. In 2012, he and Maria celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. After Maria's health declined, Josef devoted himself to her care until her death in 2020. In autumn 2021, Josef suffered a fall that marked the beginning of his own health decline. Another hip fracture in early 2025 led to his hospitalization and eventual transfer to palliative care, where he passed away peacefully.

Josef Gabert's life was marked by dedication to his family, hard work, and a love for life that touched everyone who knew him.  He was always kind, honest and loving.   He will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 from 10am - 10:45am.  The funeral service will take place in the chapel of the funeral home at 11am followed by a reception in the Fireside Reception Room.  Interment Parkview Cemetery.

A livestream and recording of the service will made available on Josef’s tribute page at www.erbgood.com