Ulrich Paul Preugschat

Country of Origin: Germany
Ship Name: SS Arosa Kulm
Port of Entry: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Date of Arrival: March 29, 1953
Age on Arrival: 25

Ulrich Paul Preugschat (dad) was born on 20th July, 1931 in Streuhofen, in the district of Schlossberg in what was East Prussia. He was the second oldest of eight children. He was thirteen when the family fled their home in October 1944, towards the end of WWII. Their flight was perilous and took them over the Vistula Lagoon. The family made it to a refugee camp in Denmark.

The family was finally able to leave in September 1948 and was relocated to Neuwied. Although dad rarely spoke about the experiences of the flight and stay in a refugee camp, they left a mark. On 19th March, 1953 he left Bremenhafen, Germany via the S.S. Arosa Kulm to start a new life in Canada. Ten days later on 29th March, 1953 he arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax, NS. He was a carpenter, cabinetmaker and sawyer. He travelled by train to BC to meet his older brother Reinhold where they both worked very hard to make new lives here in Canada. He came to know Inge Perka(mom) when he posted an ad in a German newspaper for his birthday wish in Canada - a life companion; someone with a good heart who loved children and who was prepared to get to know him through correspondence. She answered his ad on 17th June, 1956 and they wrote back and forth. Mom was born on 23rd March, 1932, in Lobstaedt. She was open to starting a life in Canada.

She came to Vancouver BC in April 1957 and they were married less than 3 weeks later on 4th May, 1957 by the Reverend E.J. Krisch of Martin Luther Church. They had two children - Edith Karin and Robby Wilfred. Mom passed on Easter in 1987. Dad never remarried and passed on the 1st February, 2012.