Frederick Harold Effa

Obituary: Frederick Harold Effa 

Frederick Harold Effa, aged 98, of Victoria, British Columbia, passed away peacefully on 16 October 2025 following a brief illness with pneumonia.

Fred was born on 23 September 1927 to Julius & Olga Effa (Weick) in Springside Saskatchewan. As a child he worked hard on the farm doing chores for his parents and neighbours late into the fall harvest. After completing grade 12 and graduating from Springside High School in 1946, he was keen to leave the farm and went on to attend the Christian Training Institute in Edmonton Alberta, before joining the Imperial Bank of Canada in 1948.

Fred began his banking career as a teller and banking accountant, working his way up to becoming bank manager. While in his bachelor days, the bank transferred him to at least 8 different towns in Alberta and Saskatchewan and as far North as a memorable stint in Yellowknife, NWT.

In 1954, Frederick married Lucille Marion Fillenberg in what was the first wedding ever performed in the newly built McKernan Baptist Church in Edmonton. In 1956 the bank transferred Fred first to Golden, BC where their son Evan was born in 1958 and then to Vancouver, BC where their daughter Maureen was born in 1961.

Fred’s skills in reorganizing and streamlining bank operations led to multiple transfers to underperforming Vancouver branches needing improvement. This also meant that his family was uprooted many times over the course of the children’s school years. Fred retired from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce after 40 years of exemplary service in 1987 at the age of 59.

Fred was a dedicated husband and father who worked hard to support his family and provide opportunities for his children that were not available to him as a child of the Depression. In his leisure time, he found joy in renovating homes and gardening and being near the ocean – passions he continued well into retirement.

As the last of his generation, he was predeceased by Lucille, his loving wife of 61 years (2015), and his siblings Mervin, Alfred, Alvin, Lawrence, Herman, Lois and Earl.

He is survived by his son Evan (Jane) and daughter Maureen (Edwin); along with five grandchildren: Elizabeth (Bryn), Marcus, Jonathan, Rachel (Jason) & Benjamin (Brenda); and three great-grandchildren: Lucille, Katherine & Rosalie.

A memorial service and interment of ashes will take place on Saturday 21 March 2026 11:00 AM at the Fredericksheim Cemetery (49078 Range Rd 243, Leduc, Alberta). A luncheon and time of reminiscence will follow at First Baptist Church (24275 Township Rd 490, Leduc, Alberta).

Frederick had a lifelong faith in Jesus and looked forward to joining his wife and family in Glory.

May he rest in peace.