Ernie Krepps, long time member of Kindersley Legion

Kindersley resident Ernie Krepps has not only been a long time member of the Kindersley Legion, but he enjoyed a career in the military that spanned thirty-two and a half years. He joined December 6th, 1960 and retired in 1992.

Ernie grew up in Brock, Sask. “Our family was very poor and there were no jobs around. Someone mentioned joining the military, so I gave it a try,” Ernie explained. After joining he spent six months in Edmonton learning how to be a soldier and another six months in Kingston, Ontario where he was trained as a radio tech. This was during the Cold War, so choosing to be a radio tech seemed to be a safe choice.

“My first posting was in Ontario where they were building an underground bunker outside of Ottawa. The purpose of the bunker was to house key members of the government and military in the event of a nuclear attack on Canada.

Ernie married his high school sweetheart on January 19th, 1962 in Kingston, Ontario. From that point on, the couple continued to move westward.

“I had a lot of postings. I always went west, never went east,” he said as he listed some of the locations ...”Shilo, Manitoba; Queen Charlotte Islands, Edmonton ... I was even posted near the North Pole for six months. My posting at Penhold, Alberta - near Red Deer was longest, lasting six years. My second last post was at Alsask where we lived on the radar base. It was when they finally got computers that were as big as a large fridge.”

Ernie’s last post before retiring was at Manitoba, after which he moved to Kindersley where he has been a long-time Legion member. “I had about five or six positions at the Legion. I have been president and secretary-treasurer; now I let some of the younger ones do it.” Ernie said. “I’m still service officer, war officer and treasurer. And I help with the poppy campaign. I keep busy.”

During his lengthy career, Ernie forged many close and lasting friendships. “The wife is a stickler for sending birthday greetings and Christmas cards to our good friends. The biggest thing now is a lot of our friends are no longer with us, especially the guys,” he added.

Remembrance Day is vitally important, a time we set aside to honour all those military men and women who have passed on, and all those men and women who are here to share their memories.

PHOTO: Ernie Krepps at Kingston, Ontario