Heinz Adolf Callsen

Heinz A. Callsen passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on June 22, 2026, at the Designated Assisted Living Center - Jasper Seniors Summit lodge.  Heinz was born on December 24, 1935, in the Schleswig Holstein region of Germany. His parents, Alfred and Emma Callsen, raised their family on the North Sea island of Wyk auf Föhr; Heinz had two brothers and three sisters. His dad was the island’s police chief and was well known to all of the residents. During his almost 70 years in the Jasper area, Heinz too would become well known to many in the Jasper National Park area. His trademark “Approved Accommodation” signs can still be found mounted on many homes in Jasper. He was also a friend to tourists in need of a tire change or a quick road-side repair. He always carried a well-stocked toolkit in his truck, ready to assist.  

Heinz trained as a carpenter in Germany and upon completing his trades program and apprenticeship, accompanied by his high school friend named Igor, he immigrated to Canada (directly to Alberta) at the age of 19. They arrived at the port of Halifax after a ten-day crossing of the Atlantic aboard an ocean liner named the “Bremen”. From Halifax, he travelled by train to Calgary; the trip took almost four days (only slightly slower than today’s VIA Rail service!) where they connected with another ex-islander Dieter who was already living in Calgary.  Like many immigrants during that era, he didn't have a lot of money in his pocket (CAD $87 to be precise) nor did he have any pre-arranged employment.  

From Calgary, he could see the mountains in the distance, and their magnetic pull brought him to Banff for a couple of years and then eventually (and permanently pretty much) to Jasper. His original plan was to work at the St. Regis pulp mill under construction in Hinton, but alas there wasn't any accommodation available in Hinton, so they continued to the “next town”.... Jasper, it was Sunday. In Jasper, at the Athabasca Hotel “Beer Parlor”, Heinz met someone who connected him to someone who knew about jobs at Parks Canada (called Department of Public Works in those days) and he started the next day - Monday!  He later met his life-long Jasper friends Fred and Rosemarie Wall from whom he rented a room when he was settling into Jasper. Other friends from these early days were Steve Berneck and Dave Bassaraba. For over 30 years Heinz was a conscientious Parks Canada employee, eventually reaching the position of paint shop foreman before retiring. 

 In those early days in Jasper, he worked as a general laborer with Parks Canada, working on the slashing for the new Icefield Parkway project. His carpentry skills did not go unnoticed, when one early summer, posted at a workcamp near Pocahontas, he built a small rowboat for his fishing crazed crew foreman. With his carpentry skills on clear display, he was eventually re-assigned within Parks Canada as the park’s sign printer.  His tradesman skills were later used to design and build, along with other tradesman friends in Jasper, the family home at 913 Pyramid Lake Road (now Bonhomme Street) and his beloved cabin at Gregg Lake, near William A. Switzer Park on Highway 40 North.  During Jasper’s busy summer months, Heinz found peace and quiet at his cabin, where he would listen to the creek and “watch the night come in” from the front deck on summer evenings. 

 During his able-bodied years in Jasper, he enjoyed photography, fishing, hunting, curling, and golfing. He was always curious about technology and new “gadgets”. He enjoyed playing bingo at the seniors lodge and was a master at cribbage. He was a lifelong learner who read instruction manuals cover to cover and was always curious to “figure out” how things worked.  

He loved Jasper - its mountains, lakes and rivers. In later years, even confined to his scooter, Heinz would continue to venture all over the local area on his red scooter. Many Jasperites will remember spotting Heinz on his scooter taking a trip out to Lake Edith and Old Fort Point. 

Heinz was a dedicated and loving father to Martin (Marty) and Karen (Bear) and grandpa to Simon, Emily and Catherine. His practical advice and down-to-earth demeanor were his trademarks and they touched all of those who knew him in life.  

The family extends its deep appreciation to Drs. Slack, Lacoursiere, Wilson and Unsworth, the nursing staff Chantal, Rose, Victoria, Helen and all the other dedicated staff at the DAL and to Ornesto, Meghan, Val and the team at the Summit Seniors Lodge for their care and attention to his needs. Heinz often commented on the outstanding dedication of the staff, particularly the nurses who he called “Saints”.   

Donations would be welcome to War Amp Canada in lieu of flowers.