Stefan was
born to Katharina Bauer Torau and Stefan Torau in Steelton, Pennsylvania in 1918.
He was truly a native of
Kapetanovo Polje, Yugoslavia in his heart and mind. He was only a year and a half
old when he, his parents and his older sister Katharina returned to the Danube
Swabian village of his mother and grandparents in 1920. His younger brother Georg
was born there in 1921.
The twenty-four years of
Stefan’s life in Kapetanovo Polje have provided for countless hours of
story-telling. Farming, markets, music, singing, dances, friends and many fond
memories amidst family hardships eventually gave way to army service, threats of the
Partisans, war, and ultimately expulsion from the homeland in 1944.
By this time Stefan and
Margaret Felder had married (Jan. 23, 1941), and they had one son, Stefan (born Jan.
1942), who left with them. A second son Reinhold was born and died in 1943. As
refugees with all worldly possessions on a horse-drawn wagon, Stefan and his family
traveled through Yugoslavia and Hungary to Austria. Daughter Inge was born en route
in Surcin, Yugoslavia.
Approximately five years
were spent in Dorf an der Bram, Austria, working for landowners. Sadness struck
twice more when 3 year old Stefan passed away and an infant daughter Katharina was
lost due to childhood illnesses.
Immigration to Canada in
1949 brought new opportunity, which Stefan and Margaret thoroughly embraced. They
worked very hard, lived frugally, and succeeded in building a new and comfortable
life for themselves, Inge, and the second Katherine born in London, Ontario.
Stefan worked at the H. J.
Heinz Co. for almost 25 years; he was an avid gardener and a perfectionist in all he
did. Faithful to his German roots and Lutheran heritage, Stefan was a Charter member
of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and a founder of the Rhine Danube club. Predeceased by
Margaret (June 1996), he will be lovingly remembered as a caring and generous son,
husband, father, and Opa by his family Inge, Denny, Stephen and Dina Mesik, and
Kathe, Tom, Stephanie and Tonya Davidson.
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