Zacharias, Abram “Abe”
December 17, 1938 – June 3, 2024
at the age of 85 years:
Celebration of Life
July 29, 2024, 1pm, Shuswap Community Church, 3151 6 Ave NE, Salmon Arm, BC
In Loving Memory of Abram (Abe) Zacharias
On June 3, 2024, at the age of 85, with his loving wife at his side, Abe went to his Heavenly Mansion “to meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (his recent words) whom he sung about for many years.
Abe was born in Hague, Saskatchewan to William and Anna Zacharias, the middle child of 11. When still a young boy, his family moved to southern Alberta. As a teenager he gave his life to Christ and went on to attend Bible College in Alberta for 3 years. He then moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to find a job, and soon met the love of his life, Margaret (Marg) Groening at a church youth wiener roast. After courting for a year and a half, Abe and Marg were married in November of 1962. Soon after, he enrolled in trade school where he completed his welding certification where he went onto to make welding his career for many years. A few years later, they moved to Calgary where Abe continued to work as a welder, started his own business in Ornamental Iron and worked with his welding Rig. Abe and Marg then moved their family to Golden, BC to escape the busy city life to enjoy country living. Abe continued with his welding business for many years and later worked for CP Rail as a railway track patrolman.
Abe was raised in a very musical family where he learned the gift of singing and harmonizing. His brother Bill taught him a few chords on guitar that inspired his lifelong love of music and singing. In 1992, after moving to Salmon Arm, BC, he retired from his first career as a welder and began his second career in full time music ministry. He travelled with his wife across Western Canada and parts of the United States, playing many church concerts, country gospel festivals and various other venues. He recorded many albums, mostly his own compositions and collaborated with other musicians and singers along the way. He was honoured to sing one of his own songs on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, with their band in accompaniment. Abe was nominated several times by the Country Gospel Music Association, for Song Writer of the Year, and won several awards. Then also for the Male Vocalist of the Year and won awards with the top honor of Male Vocalist for Canada & the United States in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1997. He also won Group of the Year with Kathy Froese and Lyn Sandi and enjoyed singing in the group “Sons of the Sage” with Duane Stewart and Gerry Pelland.
His hobbies were mostly his music, reading, going for walks and hiking. In is earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, however, most importantly was spending quality time with his family. His infectious smile and witty sense of humor warmed the hearts of his beloved family and friends.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Marg, of 61 years. Also, his four much loved children, Angela (Larry), Kevin, Laurel (Chris), and Trevor as well as his precious grandchildren Keith (Corrie), Collin, Alajiah (Riley), Joshua, Janayah, and his special great grandsons Liam and Dominic. His last wish was for all his family to meet him in Heaven.
He was predeceased by his parents William and Anna, his brothers Bill and Tony and his sisters Helen and Kay. He will be dearly missed by his surviving brothers John and Dave and his sisters Anne, Marie, Betty and Eve.
The family would like to extend our thanks to Dr. Dirk Breugem for his care and to the medical staff at the Shuswap Lake General Hospital in Salmon Arm for their support and care in the last few weeks of his long and difficult decline in health.
