October 5, 2017

By Obituaries on October 5, 2017.

1935 ~ ISIDORE “IZZY”

BONOGOFSKY ~ 2017
Isidore “Izzy” Paul Bonogofsky, beloved husband of Shirley Bonogofsky of Medicine Hat, passed away on Thursday, September 28th, 2017 at the age of 82 years. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL, #1 Dunmore Road SE, on Thursday from 6:00 to 6:55 p.m. and at ST. PATRICK’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 238 – 2nd Avenue NE, on Friday from 12:00 to 12:55 p.m. Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL on Thursday, October 5th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. PATRICK’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH on Friday, October 6th, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. with Father Philip Le, Celebrant. Interment will take place in the Roman Catholic Section at Hillside Cemetery. Memorial gifts in Izzy’s memory may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or to the Alberta Heart & Stroke Foundation. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Izzy Bonogofsky. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, "The Chapel in the Park" #1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5 (403)528-2599 http://www.saamis.com inquiry@saamis.com Locally owned and directed CGR Holdings Ltd.

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1940 ~ LENORA SCHLACHTER ~ 2017

Lenora Theresa Schlachter of Medicine Hat, beloved wife of the late Timothy Schlachter, passed away on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 at the age of 77 years. Lenora leaves to cherish her memory four children, Denise (Aileen Speedie) Schlachter, Glenn (Vivian) Schlachter, Brian (Laurie) Schlachter, and Janice (Brad) Herman, and their families. A Private Family Service will be held. Memorial gifts in Lenora’s memory may be made to the Lupus Society of Alberta. Condolences may be sent to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Lenora Schlachter. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, "The Chapel in the Park" #1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5 (403)528-2599 http://www.saamis.com inquiry@saamis.com Locally owned and directed CGR Holdings Ltd.

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1959 ~ ROGER “ROCKY” RATH ~ 2017

Roger “Rocky” Rath of Medicine Hat, passed away on Sunday, October 1st, 2017 at the age of 58 years. Rocky leaves to cherish his memory, his mother, Inez; one brother, Gene; one sister, Carrie; his aunts, Winny Rath, Irene (Balzar) Lanz, and Jane Grubel; his brother-in-law, Dean Nitz; two nieces, Darnyll (Lance) Nitz-Jacober and their son, Ethan, and Shareen (Justin) Nitz; his godmother, Tillier Meier; as well as numerous cousins and dear friends in Medicine Hat and Fort St. John. Rocky was predeceased by his father, Jim; one sister, Charlene; one brother-in-law, Farley; his grandparents; and his uncle, Dixon Rath. Rocky was born in Medicine Hat on July 24th, 1959 and grew up on a farm in Irvine. He attended Irvine School and Crescent Heights High School starting his autobody career in Grade 10 and continuing in Fort St. John. In 1994, Rocky started in oil and gas in Fort St. John as a pipe fitter and welding. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing cards, water skiing, curling, and playing softball. Rocky also enjoyed watching sports including wrestling, hockey, baseball, football and curling. He truly enjoyed watching “All in the Family” and being involved with the pit crew at stock car racing. Camping, fishing, and hunting were also some of his favorite pastimes. He built a dune buggy, “Odessey”, with his cousin, but his pride and joy was his yellow and black Chevy. Rocky had a simple, easy-going life and loved family holidays and spending time with friends. He and Gene took many short holidays through the years and his final week-long adventure was to BC in August. Rocky will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends. The Graveside Service will be held at SAAMIS PRAIRIE VIEW CEMETERY, 5160 Gershaw Drive SW, on Friday, October 6th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Mark Bolender officiating. Memorial gifts in Rocky’s memory may be made to St. Joseph’s Home, Carmel Hospice, 156 – 3rd Street NW, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 5M1. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Roger Rath. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, "The Chapel in the Park" #1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5 (403)528-2599 http://www.saamis.com inquiry@saamis.com Locally owned and directed CGR Holdings Ltd.

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ERKER

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Vincent Erker, beloved husband of the late Margaret Erker, announce his passing on Friday, September 29, 2017, at the age of 83 years. He leaves to cherish his memory six children, Garry (Wanda) Erker, Janice (Les) Eckert, Dean (Janna) Erker, Michelle (Shawn) Huntington, Darren Erker and Jason Erker; nine grandchildren, Ryan and Amy (Carson and Kyra); Daniel; Justine; Nolan and Brittany (Emmett); Jared; Trisha; Tasha and Brayden (Liam); Gabriel; Nathaniel; one brother Gerald (Linda) Erker; three sisters, Tillie (Rene) Pinel, Theresa (Carson) Rine, Anna Gamble and one sister-in-law Jeanette (Leon) Eckert, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and his good friend and companion Margaret Loran. Vincent was predeceased by his wife Margaret in 2016, his parents, Elizabeth and Roy Erker, six sisters, Frances, Elizabeth, Katherine, Eleanor, Cecilia and Margaret. Born near Liebenthal, Saskatchewan Vincent was the second eldest of eleven children born to Roy and Elizabeth Erker. He attended Baden School and Liebenthal School before beginning his farming career. He married Margaret Heck in 1959, and together they raised their children on a farm located half a mile from the farm where Vincent had grown up. Vincent and Margaret moved to Medicine Hat in 1991, but he continued to farm until 2004. Vincent was a very active member of the community, volunteering as a baseball coach, school board trustee, and member of the Liebenthal recreation board. He was also very involved with the Knights of Columbus at Liebenthal, and later the Joe McKenna Council in Medicine Hat. He was an active church volunteer and loved to sing in the church choir, and later in the congregation. Vincent loved music; he had a wonderful voice and a natural musical ability. He taught himself to play the accordion and, later on, the organ. One of his favorite past-times in recent years, while living at the Wellington, was to attend the musical entertainment provided by many local musicians, and he could be heard singing along to the songs he knew. Vincent was a devoted husband and he cared for Margaret for several years as her health was declining. He was a strong Christian and he continued to find great comfort in his faith. He was a treasured husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend. He will be dearly missed by all. Family and friends will gather for prayers in the PATTISON CHAPEL on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be celebrated in Holy Family Parish (1451 Strachan Road SE) on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Philip Le, celebrant. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre (Medicine Hat Regional Hospital) c/o 666 5th Street SW, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 4H6 or to the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Society, 11728 Kingsway Ave N.W., Edmonton, AB T1G 0X5. To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: pattfh@telusplanet.net subject heading: Vincent Erker, or you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com and leave a message of condolence.
Funeral Arrangements are by the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 540 South Railway St. SE, Medicine Hat T1A 4C2

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MICHAEL CHARLES JENSEN

January 17, 1982 ~ October 2, 2017

With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of Michael “Mike” Charles Jensen of Medicine Hat on Monday, October 2, 2017, at the age of 35. Mike was born in Medicine Hat on January 17, 1982. He is the fourth of eight children born to Roger and Joanne Jensen of Medicine Hat. He will be fondly and lovingly remembered by his two children, Mary and Nolan, his wife, Fiona Underwood and his parents. He was predeceased by his first wife, Zaidee Potter who passed away in 2012. He will be greatly missed by his parents and surviving siblings, Jennifer (Michael) Roberts, Jeff (Eva) Jensen, Andy (Gloria) Jensen, Amy (Blair) Smethurst, Tessa (Tony) Huber, and Zach Jensen. Many nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, aunts and friends will miss his ready smile and cheerful and playful disposition. He is also survived by his good friend and mentor, Margaret Davies. He was predeceased by his sister, Melissa Joy Jensen Gwynn, a niece, Taylor Roberts, and his grandparents. Michael was the first blind student that the Medicine Hat School District taught beginning with kindergarten through to grade 12. He graduated from Crescent Heights High School with the silver medal for academics. After high school, Mike earned his certificate as a massage therapist in Calgary. He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in cell biology from the University of Alberta. He worked as a data analyst for Alberta Health Services until his health prevented him from continuing. Mike was always very independent despite having lost his vision completely at a young age. He always met each challenge with determination and a smile. When he was told that he couldn’t do something because of his blindness, that made him all the more determined to do that thing. He showed by patience, determination and courage that almost any obstacle could be overcome. He was always learning new things and was always ready to try something new, especially if there was some degree of excitement, speed and danger. He loved playing musical instruments like guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, piano, and recently was learning the banjo. He loved the outdoors and any sport. Over the years, he made many good friends through ASRAB (a blind sport organization) and the CNIB. He was loved and admired by all who knew him. Mike inspired hope in others and showed by example to never give up despite the challenges of life. The Funeral Service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1864 Division Avenue N.E., Medicine Hat on Friday, October 6, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. with Bishop Michael McClung conducting. Interment will follow at the Redcliff Cemetery. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at the church between 11:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website: http://www.cook southland.com) In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the education fund for Michael's children at any branch of Service Credit Union, in the account for the "Michael Jensen Family"; to Alberta Sports & Recreation Association for the Blind, 15 Colonel Baker Place N.E., Calgary, AB., T2E 4Z3 or to the CNIB, 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON., M4G 3E8. Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455

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