Marlies Gauer
April 12, 1938 - July 9, 2025
As published in the July 21, 2025 World-Spectator
With profound sadness, the family of Marlies Gauer announces her passing at the age of 87 years. With family at her side, Marlies passed away at St. Anthony’s Hospital on July 9, 2025.
Marlies was born April 12, 1938 in Herdecke-Ruhr, Germany. The child of Kurt Daniel and Anna (Niemann) Daniel, Marlies was the second of three children. She attended her grade and trade school years in Germany, obtaining her diploma in Butchery and Business. Marlies was an elite athlete and a musician. It was at one of her canoe regattas in 1957 that Marlies met Guenter, a spectator at the event. From that day on, the two were a couple, marrying in 1960. In 1961, Marlies and Guenter immigrated to Canada and on arrival in Halifax, obtained their landed-immigrant papers. From there, they travelled to Regina, Saskatchewan.
Guenter began work as a Volkswagen mechanic and Marlies was able to ply her trade at Hirth Meats and Delicatessen. She worked there until 1963. In 1962, Marlies moved with Guenter to Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, where Guenter had started to work at the new potash mine. Marlies continued to work periodically in Regina for the next two years until the couple’s first child, Daniela, was born in May of 1964. Following that, Marlies happily became full time mother, and in June of 1967, had her second child, Philipp. And so began her life of caring for others.
It was the Second World War’s impact during her growing up years which influenced what Marlies undertook in her 63 years of living in Esterhazy. Along with being a loving, devoted wife and mother, Marlies’ life of service to others included being: a founding member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, a member of the Lutheran Church Women’s group, a Sunday School teacher, a Lutheran lay service leader for Esterhazy Centennial Care Home residents, and a member of the Esterhazy Kinette and later K-40 community service clubs. With the latter service groups, Marlies received national recognition through the Kinsmen Club of Canada’s Elspeth Rogers Award for her outstanding contributions in service of those in her community.
Music was a huge part of Marlies’ life. She shared her gift of voice in different venues, often singing by herself and in any choir opportunity that presented. She taught herself to play guitar, sharing her music with her children and grandchildren, teaching them to appreciate traditional German and classical music, and operas.
In the early, 1990s, Marlies journeyed to central America, to Nicaragua and Guatemala, with a Lutheran Church Mission group. A deeply faithful person, the experiences of the trip left Marlies looking for more ways to serve people. In 1995, she began her 25-year foray into Pastoral Care at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Esterhazy. Marlies listened quietly, held hands, and prayed with people who were at their lowest.
Marlies’ door was always open — a cup of strong coffee, a meal, and groceries and other essentials for those who needed it, was available. When not spending time travelling or tending her garden, Marlies enjoyed spending time with people, and her hobbies of water colour painting and reading. Her love and kindness for family, friends and strangers was beyond measure.
Marlies was predeceased by her husband Guenter, her parents Kurt Daniel and Anna (Niemann) Daniel, her sister Renate, her brother-in-law Guenter Fischer, her brother Artur, and a nephew.
Marlies will forever be remembered by her daughter Daniela (Darwin) Fiske and her son Philipp (Nicole) Gauer and sadly missed by her grandchildren Sarah (Michael) Gillis, Daniel Fiske and Alysha, Heather Fiske and Tate. Marlies also leaves to morn her sister-in-law Renate Daniel, brother-in-law Armin (Elke) Gauer, sister-in-law Sigried (Rolf) Schmidt, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Marlies’ family would like to thank Dr. Mandi Nel, and the staff of Esterhazy Centennial Special Care Home and St. Anthony’s Hospital for the compassionate care received by Marlies. Marlies would say “may God bless you all.”
The funeral service was held on July 15, 2025 at 2 pm from Redeemer Lutheran Church with Rev. Cindy Werner officiating. Honorary Pallbearers were Darwin Fiske, Daniel Fiske, Sarah Gillis, Michael Gillis, Heather Fiske, and Daniela Fiske.
Donations in memory of Marlies Gauer can be made to Kinsmen Telemiracle or St. Anthony’s Hospital Palliative Care, Esterhazy.
Peter Carscadden Funeral Service was in care of the arrangements. https://www.pcarscaddenfs.ca. Phone: 306-745-3304
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