Ich bin ein Berliner!

Recently in watching their latest movie, Muppets Most Wanted, I chuckled as I heard the line, “Ich bin ein Berliner”. Who’s line is this anyway? The Muppets,  President John F Kennedy, or Jacob Kehler? It prompted a deeper thought, what does it really mean to be a Berliner (Kehler)?

Let’s look at the history of this name, as we know it. It was 130 years ago today that Jacob Kehler married Elisabeth Schultz, and the couple took the unusual step of setting up a house on a vacant school lot, where there was no village, about a half a mile east of Hochfeld (Mitchell, Manitoba). Not long after establishing their home, a friend asked Jacob what the place they were living was called. Remembering that he had passed through the great city of Berlin, Germany, on his way to Canada, jokingly he replied it was called “Berlin”.  This was the start of the nickname which was used so extensively that many in the Manitoba East Reserve did not even know that his name was Jacob. All his children were known to be of the Berliner Kehler family.

By all accounts, Jacob “Berliner” Kehler,  was a colorful, dynamic man who lived life at full throttle until he was struck down by cancer in his late fifties. Although a life long farmer, he was also active in politics and served as a Councillor in Hanover Municipality and also a government weed inspector.  For years he served as a kind of male nurse who vaccinated children in the community against small pox.   Berliner was a skilled linguist fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, German, English and Yiddish (he even spoke a little French) and was much in demand as an interpreter for political candidates. Above everything, his local fame stemmed from his charismatic personality. He had a sharp wit and was a brilliant raconteur. On the spiritual side, Berliner served as a Vorsanger (song leader) in the Chortitzer Church.

Both Jacob “Berliner” and his wife Elizabeth loved company and their hospitality was boundless. Even with a house full of children (eleven survived infancy) they were constantly entertaining guests – relatives, friends and strangers alike. From politicians and prosperous business men to Jewish peddlers and outright beggars, all were welcome to stay for a meal and for the night, if necessary.  Berliner was the perfect host, enjoying a ready-made audience for his hilarious anecdotes and witty jokes.

As I gain speed in the course of life and meet with many people in my day to day business, I find my connection to Berliner more intriguing. Knowing that Jacob “Berliner” was respected and had a vibrant personality, we too, can take pride in the words and say –

“Ich bin ein Berliner”!

Brad Kehler, a 3rd generation Berliner Kehler, resides in Mitchell, Manitoba — near the original Berliner Kehler Ebenfeld Homestead.