Frank Oberle Sr., Canada's first German-born federal minister, passes away at 92

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Former federal minister Frank Oberle Sr. and his wife Joan, were married for 71 years (Frank Oberle Jr., Facebook)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A former mayor of Chetwynd and once a federal minister in the Bryan Mulroney government, Frank Oberle Sr. has died.

Oberle Sr. passed away in Squamish on Thursday, September 12th, at the age of 92. A statement from his family says he went “peacefully and without suffering.”

His death comes a mere two weeks following the passing of his beloved wife of 71 years, Joan, who died on August 28th.

Born in Germany in 1932, a nine-year-old Oberle emigrated with his family to what was Nazi-occupied Poland in 1941. He emigrated to Canada after the end of World War II in 1952.

After working as a baker, logger, and salesman, Oberle entered civil politics. First elected an alderman in the District of Chetwynd in 1962, he was elected mayor six years later and served in the chair until 1972.

Entering federal politics, Oberle Sr. was elected to the Prince George-Peace River riding for 21 years and subsequently won re-election on five occasions.

In the mid-1980s, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney appointed him a junior cabinet minister for science and technology, making him Canada’s first German-born federal minister.

He oversaw the development of the CanadArm, the robotic fixture on NASA’s space shuttle program. He later served as the Forestry Minister.

Retiring in 1993 after Kim Campbell replaced Mulroney as the country’s first female prime minister, he later wrote a pair of memoirs based on his experiences growing up during the Second World War.

Oberle Sr. is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

The release from Oberle’s family says that “Nothing made him happier than celebrating family accomplishments” and that he was the family’s “biggest cheerleader.”

According to the statement, a private ceremony will be held at a later unannounced date.

The family says that donations can be made in Frank’s name by sponsoring a child through Plan Canada, a non-profit promoting social justice in developing countries both he and his wife supported.