Obituary of Benjamin Heiberg

Ben's Short, but Full, Life Story Benjamin Gordon Heiberg was born in Camrose, AB on August 4, 1990, to proud parents, Gordon and Jennifer Heiberg; baptized into the family of God, by the Spirit, through Jesus, the following September 16th (godparents, Auntie Elsa and Uncle Arlen Salte). Benjamin captured hearts with his smile and zeal from day one. He cut his first tooth without Tylenol on a long drive home from Fort St. John, BC; he learned to run at about nine months (not bothering with the walking stage); and he was standing on the garbage can clearly proclaiming the alphabet at the age of two. He was a challenge to keep up to until his middle-teen, more relaxed, years. Ben graduated from Kindergarten at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Kingman, AB; from Grade Nine at Round Hill School, AB; and then, in 2008, from Grade Twelve at Hay Lakes School, AB. He spent one school year at the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, Camrose, AB. He took a Weed Identification and Management course from Olds College, AB by correspondence; and completed his Mobile Crane Operator and Red Seal courses through NAIT in Edmonton, AB. Farming distracted him from completing all of the required on-the-job journeyman Crane training hours, but while working he had performed like a certified professional. Throughout his school years and into the truncated years that followed, Ben exhibited a special caring for those who were the 'underdog'. He lived his life appreciating the value of working hard, but remembering to play hard as well. Gord, Jennifer, Benjamin and Sean (his only, younger brother by two years) developed a very precious family relationship. They camped and traveled together regularly. They curled, skied and generally lived sports together, eagerly anticipating doing the same in this New Year, 2017 AD. The ability to have fun together made working together as a family both a joy and a privilege that is rare, and certainly not taken for granted. He will be remembered with love and missed on so many levels and in so many ways, both around the farm and on future holidays. The close proximity of both Gord's and Jennifer's immediate families meant that Ben was also well-loved by his Great-Grandma, Oma, Grandpa, Grandmas, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins. His cousins have honoured him today by sharing the gift of music which was so integral to his life. His heart could be heard through the alto saxophone, but he wasn't afraid to try playing any instrument - the piano first (under his Grandma Heiberg's patient tutelage), other saxophones (oh, that bari-sax!), the trumpet, tuba, drums, Guitar Hero, and also, his voice. Ben left unfinished the process of making his home and yard into an orderly, welcoming place for family and friends (with much help from Grandma Voigt's 'home depot' supplies). And he did have friends; not only because of what they meant to him, but in the way he gave of himself in so many ways, jumping to help with any need, regardless of the length of the list he was working on. The bonds of friendship, especially those with his girlfriend, Tori, will be dearly missed. Recently, Sean had become Ben's roommate. Ben had begun to work on motivating Sean to join him in the vision of living life to the fullest, together on the farm and in their home. Tragically, this will only happen now through memories, but give thanks to God that there are so many. May God continue to heal Sean's tender, aching heart, protect him, and flood him with the knowledge of forgiveness and unconditional love, found in Christ, our Lord, and experienced through so many people in his life. Benjamin was predeceased by his great-grandmothers, Myrtle Magneson and Johanna Voigt; grandfathers, Andreas Heiberg and Wilhelm Voigt; aunt, Grace Schacher; and second-cousin, Dwight Koppel. He is survived by his parents, Gordon and Jennifer Heiberg; brother, Sean; grandmothers, Bernice Heiberg and Grethe Voigt; girlfriend, Victoria Mooney; uncle, Lyle (Rebecca) Heiberg, uncle, Robert Schacher; aunt, Elsa (Arlen) Salte, aunt, Ruby (Manfred) Neumann and cousins, Severin (Carole Preston, Andreas) Heiberg, Kierstin (Richard Bruneau) Heiberg, Erika Heiberg, Andrew (Kristyn) Schacher, Alex (Shannon, Grayden) Schacher, Karla Schacher, Linnea (Andrew Anstey) Salte, Brennan (Melanie, Jude, Willis) Salte, Jared (Bethany) Salte, the extended Magneson, Dawson, and Andersen families and many good friends. Good-bye Benjamin, 'til we meet again. A Public Visitation was held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 20, 2017 from the Burgar Memorial Chapel. A funeral service was held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the Bardo Lutheran Church, 5609 - 48 Street, Tofield, AB, with Pastor Kevin Langager officiating. A recording of the funeral service will be made available on the CLBI facebook page. Memorial donations may be directed to Bardo Lutheran Church or World Mission Prayer League (Camrose, AB).