Konrad Judas

Family and friends are welcome to join a Service of Remembrance for Konrad Judas

Monday, October 24th, 2022 

Viewing: 10:15 am – 10:45 am

Funeral: 11:00 am 

Location: Church On Five, 10200 No. 5 Road, Richmond, BC  

Konrad Judas went to be with the Lord on Monday, October 10th (Thanksgiving Day) while living in long term care in Surrey, B.C. 

Konrad was born in the Bavarian village of Kornbach, Germany on May 22nd, 1932, during the tumultuous last year of the Weimar Republic. He was the fourth son and sixth and last child of Johann and Margarete (Pleitner). Konrad’s maternal grandmother, Katharina was part of the family that founded the Opel Automobile Company. 

At the age of eight, Konrad lost his mom to illness.  Raised by his widower father, Konrad would bring him lunch each day in the forest where he worked.  During his youth, he took up the cobbler trade where he learned to mend boots and shoes.  

In response to Konrad’s true passion of riding motorcycles, which consumed more than his free time, his father sent him to live in Canada where his brothers Wilhelm and Hans had settled.  Armed with only a few dollars and his accordion, Konrad arrived in Ontario where he and his brother Wilhelm, like their father, worked in forestry.   

Konrad worked diligently to learn the English language, always carrying a dictionary so that he could learn the meaning of new words he had heard.  He eventually made his way to the West Coast, settling in Williams Lake where he met Helmuth Schultz. A fellow German, Schultz introduced Konrad to his cousin, Hildegard. 

Konrad and Hildegard were married in Chilliwack in 1957. Together they raised four children, briefly returning to Germany in 1966 where they owned a home, before permanently settling in Vancouver along with his two sisters and their families.  

Konrad and Hilde proudly became Canadian citizens in 1973. Together they were actively involved at Bethany Baptist Church where Konrad spent many years looking after the passenger van and driving seniors to and from church on Sundays. 

Konrad loved to drive and even worked part time as a driving instructor.  As a blue-collar worker, he also paved many streets for the City of Vancouver and worked in partnership with his two brothers-in-law in construction. Later in his career, he delivered steel for the Wilkinson Steel Company until a debilitating injury on the job forced him into early retirement. 

In 1995, Konrad lost his beloved wife Hilde to cancer and his heart was forever broken.  Combined with significant hearing loss and the onset of Parkinson’s disease in his early sixties, Konrad retreated to a quiet, simple life focused on helping members of his family through a difficult period.   

Although Konrad still found pleasure in riding the motorcycle that his family purchased for him after Hilde’s death, his greatest joy continued to be time spent time with his grandchildren, whom he adored. 

A godly, humble, and kind man, he was beloved by many and will be missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him. 

Konrad is survived by his children, Roland Judas of Kamloops, Walter (Deborah) Judas and Dianne (Roger) Grover of Surrey, 11 grandchildren (Daniel, Cate, and Gregory Judas; Jacqueline and Lukas Dressler; Michal Schneider; Brittany Meisner, Clayton and Derek Judas; Alec and Max Grover,) eight great grandchildren (and a ninth on the way), siblings Trina Fischer and Wilhelm Waldstein, and godson Klaus (Carol) Jennermann.  He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Hildegard (Lau) (1995), his daughter Doris Schneider (2018), and siblings, Hedwig (2014), Hans (1988), and Adolf (1944).