FRANK CHRISTIAN LUDWIG SCHEIBLER

It is with broken hearts that his family announces the passing of Frank Christian Ludwig Scheibler, 55, of Emo, Ont.
Frank passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., with his family singing and praying around his bedside.
Frank was born Feb. 8, 1961 at the Women’s Pavilion in Winnipeg, Man. to Johannes and Inge Scheibler of Emo–formerly of Stratton, Ont.
His parents struggled as they watched Frank from birth fight to breathe, miss so much school, and endure numerous hospitalizations. It wasn’t until his 16th birthday in Toronto that Frank was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and began receiving proper treatment.
At that time, Frank was given a life expectancy of 30 years; he far surpassed this and became one of the oldest living Canadian CF patients without a lung transplant.
Unfortunately, he became critically ill before he was able to realize a transplant.
Over the years, Frank graduated from Grade 12, took college courses, started his own businesses, worked as a farm-hand and milk inspector in Rainy River District, and spent many years trucking throughout Canada and the U.S.
He never wanted to live with the label “disabled” and so he continued trucking as long as he could—always stopping in any community to visit family and friends.
He loved to attend his home church of Off Lake Covenant and grew to have a strong faith in God, which he practised and shared with many, including at Bible camp, while building homes in Guatemala, and while in hospital.
Frank’s love was huge! He cared deeply for his parents–calling them his “best friends”—as well as his brothers and sisters, his nieces and nephews, and always made time to call/text, visit, attend their hockey games and birthdays, share a coffee or meal, and play Catan and trump card games for hours!
Frank never accumulated great financial wealth during his lifetime, preferring to share whatever he had with others. He did, however, accumulate an even greater wealth in the friendships he made, the relationships he nurtured, and the strangers whom he helped.
He will be deeply missed by his parents, Johannes and Inge Scheibler; foster son, Andrew Hawk; and siblings, Mike (Betty), Barb (Larry) Hands, Christine Scheibler, Jim (Maxine), Ralph (Cindy), Andreas (Denise Dubois), Rosi (Domenic) D’Uva, Gabriel Scheibler, Gloria (Tony) Hamm, and Dorothy Bates (Mike Morrin).
He also is survived by numerous (great) nieces and nephews; uncles, aunties, and cousins in Kenora, Winnipeg, and Germany; and his many loving friends from Rainy River District, trucker friends throughout Canada and the U.S., and friends he made during his travels abroad.
Family and friends will be received Friday, April 15, 2016 from 7-9 p.m. at the Northridge Funeral Home in Emo, Ont.
A service of celebration and remembrance of Frank’s life will follow there Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1 p.m., with Pastor Mark Mast officiating.
Luncheon to follow at the Emo Legion.
Internment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider an in memoriam donation either to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the Guatemala Outreach Program c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com