Frank Oberle Sr.

The Honourable
Frank Oberle
PC
Minister of Forestry
In office
February 23, 1990 – June 24, 1993
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
Preceded byJack Davis (1971)
Succeeded byBobbie Sparrow
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Prince George—Peace River
In office
October 30, 1972 – October 25, 1993
Preceded byRobert Borrie
Succeeded byJay Hill
Personal details
Born(1932-03-24)March 24, 1932
Forchheim, Baden, Germany
DiedSeptember 12, 2024(2024-09-12) (aged 92)
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
PartyProgressive Conservative
ChildrenFrank Oberle Jr.

Frank Oberle Sr. PC (March 24, 1932 – September 12, 2024) was a Canadian businessman and politician.[1]

Life and career

Born in Forchheim near Karlsruhe, Germany, Oberle moved with his family to German-occupied Poland in 1941. There he was placed in a Hitler Youth indoctrination program. Later, he fled the Red Army advance, surviving on grass and stolen eggs while walking 800 kilometres to his home village in the Black Forest. Rejected by his relatives, he immigrated to Canada at the age of 19 and became a logger and then a gold miner.

Oberle entered municipal politics, becoming mayor of Chetwynd. He entered federal politics and was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1972 general election as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River, British Columbia. He subsequently won re-election five times.

In 1985, Oberle became the first German-born federal Canadian cabinet minister when he became Minister of State for Science and Technology in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's government. He was science minister when the Canadarm went into space as part of the Space Shuttle program. He later became Minister of State for Forestry, and then Minister of Forestry in 1990.

Oberle retired from Cabinet when Kim Campbell succeeded Mulroney as Prime Minister, and retired from politics with the dissolution of the 34th Canadian Parliament for the 1993 election.

In 2004, Oberle published a memoir of his World War II experiences, Finding Home: A War Child’s Journey to Peace (2004). A second memoir, A Chosen Path: From Moccasin Flats to Parliament Hill, was published in the same year.

His son Frank Oberle Jr. was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 2004 provincial election, and was appointed Solicitor General on January 13, 2010.[2]

Oberle died on September 12, 2024, in Squamish, British Columbia, two weeks after his wife of Joan, at the age of 92.[3][4]

Electoral history

1988 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.13,90339.60–22.84
New DemocraticAlan Timberlake11,68433.28+9.17
ReformJay Hill5,07714.46–
LiberalJacques Monlezun4,18311.92+1.97
IndependentHoward Karpes1690.48–
Confederation of RegionsLorne W. Backus890.25–0.74
Total valid votes 35,10599.62
Total rejected ballots 1330.38+0.09
Turnout 35,23871.79+2.83
Eligible voters 49,087
Progressive Conservative hold Swing –16.00
Source: Elections Canada[5][6][7]
1984 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.21,15462.44+10.34
New DemocraticJim Best8,16824.11–2.09
LiberalPaul Bouey3,3689.94–9.39
RhinocerosJ. Paul Ekering3851.14–
Social CreditRichard J. Lawrence3421.01–1.37
Confederation of RegionsJohn F. Light3350.99–
LibertarianSid Schneider1270.37–
Total valid votes 33,87999.71
Total rejected ballots 980.29+0.03
Turnout 33,97768.96+10.24
Eligible voters 49,270
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +6.22
Source: Elections Canada[8][9][10]
1984 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.21,15462.44+10.34
New DemocraticJim Best8,16824.11–2.09
LiberalPaul Bouey3,3689.94–9.39
RhinocerosJ. Paul Ekering3851.14–
Social CreditRichard J. Lawrence3421.01–1.37
Confederation of RegionsJohn F. Light3350.99–
LibertarianSid Schneider1270.37–
Total valid votes 33,87999.71
Total rejected ballots 980.29+0.03
Turnout 33,97768.96+10.24
Eligible voters 49,270
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +6.22
Source: Elections Canada[11][12][13]
1980 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.13,59352.10–8.85
New DemocraticBob Simpson6,83526.20+5.70
LiberalJim McIntyre5,04419.33+0.78
Social CreditRichard J. Lawrence6202.38–
Total valid votes 26,09299.74
Total rejected ballots 680.26+0.02
Turnout 26,16058.72–8.01
Eligible voters 44,552
Progressive Conservative hold Swing –7.28
Source: Elections Canada[14][15][16]
1979 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.16,28860.95+14.11
New DemocraticBob Simpson5,47820.50+5.83
LiberalLes Broddy4,95718.55–15.79
Total valid votes 26,72399.76
Total rejected ballots 640.24–0.04
Turnout 26,78766.72+0.60
Eligible voters 40,146
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +4.14
Source: Elections Canada[17][18][19]
1974 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.18,76946.84+7.48
LiberalAllan Bate13,75934.33+2.72
New DemocraticStuart Robert Steventon5,88014.67–7.03
Social CreditWendell Philip Smith1,6654.15–3.17
Total valid votes 40,07399.72
Total rejected ballots 1130.28–0.31
Turnout 40,18666.12–1.19
Eligible voters 60,773
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +2.38
Source: Library of Parliament[20][21]
1972 Canadian federal election: Prince George—Peace River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Oberle Sr.14,64839.36+9.66
LiberalBob Borrie11,76631.62–3.30
New DemocraticWilliam Marshall Close8,07621.70–0.33
Social CreditAl Kruegar2,7267.32–4.74
Total valid votes 37,21699.41
Total rejected ballots 2200.59–0.09
Turnout 37,43667.31–2.82
Eligible voters 55,614
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.48
Source: Library of Parliament[22][23]

References

  1. ↑ "OBERLE, The Hon. Frank, P.C." Library of Parliament. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Stelmach makes major changes to Alberta cabinet". National Post. Retrieved February 7, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ Ernst, Trent (September 22, 2024). "Frank Oberle, former MP who described Tumbler Ridge as "a breeding ground of human misery" passes away - Tumbler RidgeLines". Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ https://energeticcity.ca/2024/09/24/frank-oberle-sr-canadas-first-german-born-federal-minister-passes-away-at-92/
  5. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1988)". lop.parl.ca.
  6. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1988). Thirty-Fourth General Election, 1988: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Elections Canada. ISBN 0-662-56648-3.
  7. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1988). Thirty-Fourth General Election, 1988: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer - Respecting Election Expenses (Report). Ottawa: Elections Canada. ISBN 0-662-56925-3.
  8. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1984)". lop.parl.ca.
  9. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Thirty-Third General Election, 1984: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-662-53477-8.
  10. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Thirty-Third General Election, 1984: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer - Respecting Election Expenses (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-662-53472-7.
  11. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1984)". lop.parl.ca.
  12. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Thirty-Third General Election, 1984: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-662-53477-8.
  13. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Thirty-Third General Election, 1984: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer - Respecting Election Expenses (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-662-53472-7.
  14. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1980)". lop.parl.ca.
  15. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1980). Thirty-Second General Election, 1980: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-660-50630-0.
  16. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1980). Thirty-Second General Election, 1980: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer - Respecting Election Expenses (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-662-51248-0.
  17. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1979)". lop.parl.ca.
  18. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1979). Thirty-First General Election, 1979: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-660-50445-6.
  19. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1979). Thirty-First General Election, 1979: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer - Respecting Election Expenses (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. ISBN 0-662-50834-3.
  20. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1974)". lop.parl.ca.
  21. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1974). Thirtieth General Election, 1974: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  22. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Prince George--Peace River, British Columbia (1972)". lop.parl.ca.
  23. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1972). Twenty-Ninth General Election, 1972: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.

Bibliography

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