Friedrich Ebert, the seventh of nine children of Karl Ebert and Katharina Hinkel, was born February 4, 1871 in Heidelberg, Germany. He married Louise Rump in 1894, and they raised five children together, including politician Friedrich "Fritz" Jr. He was a leader of the Social Democratic movement in Germany and a moderate socialist; he was a leader in bringing about the constitution of the Weimar Republic, which attempted to unite Germany after its defeat in World War I. He was the first president of the Weimar Republic, from 1919 until his death in office on February 28, 1925 in Berlin; he was buried in Heidelberg, Germany.

Johann Goldak was born in late August 1895 (registered the 28th, but was apparently born at least a few days before, according to his mother and daughter) to Johann Goldak and Luise Romahn in Lyck, East Prussia, Germany (now Poland), the second of five sons. As a young man, while working to help support his family after his father's death in 1904, he learned Polish from his customers, which he later used to act as an interpreter during the war. At the age of 17, he completed his engineering studies. When World War I broke out two years later, Johann enlisted and was put to work laying cables (among other duties) as an engineer. He first fought on the Russian front, where his feet froze badly, and he was later shot very close to the heart. He miraculously survived and was later able to have surgery; 3 months later, he was sent back to the front lines, but this time in France. He was captured and taken to an American-run POW camp, where he was the highest ranking officer. As such, when they were still being held prisoner in March 1919, four months after the Armistice, he wrote to the newly-elected first president of the new Weimar Republic, Friedrich Ebert, to ask when they might be released. He won three awards in the war, including the Iron Cross (all of which were meaningless to him as he didn't believe in the war).

He married Helene Hulda Erna Kalkkuhl in Apen, Westerstede, Oldenburg, Germany, on September 28, 1927. They raised two sons and two daughters: Maia Gerda, George Robert, "Johnny," and Leslie (latter two not listed as they are believed to be still living as of March 2024). The family emigrated to the area of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1929 and 1930, where Johann built the family home and made a living doing carpentry and construction, raising livestock, farming and selling plants, hunting and fishing, working in the local brewery, or whatever else was available. He also taught German classes in the evening at the local high school at one point. In 1939, Johann registered for Canadian citizenship, along with his two daughters. When World War II started, Johann and Helene had to be fingerprinted and report to the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) every month.

After the war ended, Johann was offered a job supervising the construction of an addition to the local brewery. When the project finished, he decided to start his own business, Goldak Construction; he built custom homes, and was a respected and successful businessman known for his integrity. After a heart attack in 1956, and another massive one in 1957 or 58, he was told to stop working if he wanted to live. The family sold everything and retired to Parksville, Vancouver Island, where the climate was mild and the cost of living lower. Johann built a fishing boat and became so successful as a fisherman that he had to register for a commercial license.

16 years later, in 1972, Johann had a stroke while out fishing. After months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, he worked hard to walk again and regain the strength and use of his hands. Two years later, he had another cardiovascular event; he died on January 21, 1974, in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada.