Mejnert - 1

One of the many benifits of meeting Annalise, was that I got to meet a truly fascinating person - her Great Grandfather.  He first came to Canada in 1929, at the age of 21, and eventually settled into the Camrose/Bawlf area.  I didn't meet Mejnert until 2002 when he was 94 and living in a seniors lodge, but Annalise told me many stories about often going to vist him when he still lived on his farm.  Even talking to him at 94, he was sharp as a tack, and could reminise about his first years in Canada like it was yesterday.

In 2008, I had the opportunity to grab a few photos of him on his 100th birthday.  In the photo above, he was talking with Annalise as I sat a few feet away zoomed in on his face.  He glanced over, saw me and grinned.  It is overwhelming to think about how many things those eyes have seen.  Over the next two years, Annalise and I would go visit him, and I would grab shots whenever I could.  The last three pictures of this week I took on a visit we paid to him at his Lodge, and would be one of the last times we ever saw him.  About a month later, he suffered a stroke.  His doctors informed the family, that at his age, he would likely live another two weeks tops.  As a testiment to the Mejnert's strength, he didn't pass away until 6 weeks later.  A truly amazing man.