Two D-Day veterans and central Alberta residents pass in recent weeks

After joining the Army in Saskatoon in January 1940, the Saskatchewan native found himself headed to war in 1944 for the now infamous battle.

“Our regiment invaded from the ocean – the English Channel. We were all armour, so we had to have a good landing place,” Young recounted to rdnewsNOW in June 2019.

“We had no idea what the real thing would be like. Nobody was afraid, I don’t think. We weren’t afraid of what was going to happen, and nothing did happen to our regiment.”

Young was also wounded after a bomb was dropped nearby, shrapnel going through his shoulder.

“I had to walk about a half-mile to get to a Jeep and was driven to a first-aid station where they treated me and put me on a stretcher and I was driven to a field hospital where they operated on my shoulder,” he shared.

Discharged in 1946, Young returned to Saskatchewan’s Carrot River area before relocating to Red Deer in 1965. He farmed near Joffre starting in 1970 and then retired in 2009.

Young was also featured in a 2019 Telus STORYHIVE film called Poetry, War and the Dance of Life.

Young died peacefully, supported by wife Nettie and their 11 children. His celebration of life was held July 14 at CrossRoads Church in Red Deer. The family encourages memorial donations to Royal Canadian Legion Branch #35 (Red Deer), or a charity of one’s choice. Condolences can be left at eventidefuneralchapels.com.

For Krepps, who welcomed rdnewsNOW into his home in November 2018, he considered himself lucky following his service.

“When you see the pictures of what (other) guys went through, we never went through half of what they did,” said Krepps, whose passing came just a day after his most recent birthday.

“Ours was bad, but not as bad as what those poor devils had. You see them wounded and digging those darn trenches. That was one of the reasons I joined the medical corps. I changed my mind when I went over to England because I realized that wasn’t for me. But there’s no comparison whatsoever.”

Krepps, born in Brock, Saskatchewan, became a dispatch rider with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Engineers, relaying top secret information via motorcycle. At the time of his passing, he was the oldest surviving D-Day dispatch rider.

A bullet through his leather jerkin and some shrapnel in his eye were the biggest scares during his five years overseas from 1941-46.

After two years in England, Krepps returned to Canada and married wife Eleanor, who he’d be with for 64 years.

Frank, a lifelong Legion member, is remembered by daughter Sarrie, sons Paul and Bradley, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was also a member of the Canadian Army Veteran Motorcycle Unit.

A celebration of life is being held July 16 at 2 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #35 (Red Deer – 2810 Bremner Avenue), with honour guard. His interment will be near his home in Saskatchewan.

Memorial donations can be made to Red Deer Hospice Society at reddeerhospice.com, or to Operation Smile Canada at operationsmile.ca. Condolences can be given at parklandfuneralhome.com.

Bev Hanes, Red Deer Legion president, says the pair will be very missed.

“It is very sad seeing a generation of veterans pass away. When they went off to fight the battles for our country, they were all pretty young guys, and some of their lives weren’t easy beforehand. They’ve all lived some pretty rough lives,” she says. “But around the Legion, they were two really nice members. Joe and Nettie had been there for years, and were a big support behind some of our things like the dances we did for seniors, and the musical remembrance showcase we had for 25 years. They also gave special donations to help with deficits.

“When I became president in 2014, I sent letters to all local veterans to make sure they were all being looked after, and Frank was the first one to reply. Frank was always so cheerful, and he brought a special dynamic atmosphere with him.”

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Two D-Day veterans and central Alberta residents pass in recent weeks

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