Wolfgang Ordung is celebrating an amazing dual milestone. Well-known in the community as a lively longtime presence behind the counter at Florence Meats on Speers Road in Oakville for over 16 years, Ordung just turned 90 this past June.
After managing his own butcher shop, Mari’s Delicatessen in Oakville, for 38 years, Wolfgang – or Wolf – chose to retire. However, about fifteen years later, he found that he missed the daily hustle of the shop floor and the real connections with customers; he effectively came out of retirement and joined Florence Meats.
“I’m feeling great. I can’t be any happier than I am right now with all of my friends and my customers that I have here that I’ve known, some of them for years and years and years,” he tells City News.
This past Saturday, the shop held a celebration party for him, honoring not only his birthday but also his many years of serving the community.
“We weren’t too far away from each other; we had separate businesses, but we had a similar customer base,” said Florence Meats owner Damien Goriup. “So, coming to work for us, he already knew a lot of the people that came in, and because we’ve been around so long, it’s generational; some of the people he’s helping he’s known since they were babies or that worked for him in his store.”
“He’s not just putting in time; he’s very busy. We look forward to him coming in. He has certain jobs that he does, and he fulfills those, and he keeps the rest of the employees positive,” added Goriup’s wife, Carol.
A steady stream of regulars stopped by on Saturday with birthday cards, gifts, and plenty of hugs. The theme for the party was “Hungry Like The Wolf,” featuring Wolf himself serving various German-inspired sausages as a nod to his time living in Germany before moving to Canada in 1959. The event also acted as a fundraiser supporting Oakville’s Lighthouse for Grieving Children.
Wolfgang Ordung, seen on the right, recently celebrated his 90th birthday and more than 50 years of serving the community as a butcher. CITYNEWS/David Zura Keep it Factual
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