October 31, 2018
By Obituaries on October 31, 2018.
1956 ~ RON HARKER ~ 2018 Ron Harker of Medicine Hat passed away on Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 at the age of 61 years. Ron was predeceased by his parents, Don and Lora Harker of Magrath, Alberta. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Rose Harker; daughter, Elisha (Todd) Ammann; and son, Justin (Sarah) Harker. He was especially beloved by Wanda Ward (Dave) and her brothers along with their families. Also remembering their Papa Ron are his 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. His four sisters, two brothers and their families will forever remember Ron's teasing and kind nature. Ron was an excellent basketball player in his youth, winning several championships with the Magrath Zeniths. He enjoyed travelling while semi-truck driving across the country and later in housing construction. Ron loved camping, movies and spending time with his family. His calm disposition, quick humour and patient spirit will be missed by all. After multiple health issues Ron was an example of how to endure, never complaining and never becoming stressed. Ron's fortitude and positive outlook is something we can all learn from and cherish. He will be truly missed. The Funeral Service will be held at THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, 170 N Centre Street, Magrath, Alberta on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with John Balderson officiating. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Ron Harker. Funeral arrangements are entrusted toSAAMIS 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.
Darrell Pierce 1958 ~ 2018
Mr. Darrell Pierce passed away at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Monday, October 29, 2018, at the age of 60 years. The Funeral Service will be celebrated at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Friday, November 2, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at http://www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455
DEBBIE BIGGE 1955 ~ 2018
It is with saddened hearts that the family of Debbie Anne Bigge, beloved wife of the late Wolfgang Bigge, announce her passing after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Debbie passed away with her loving family and friends by her side on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, in Medicine Hat at the age of 63 years. Left to cherish Debbie’s memory are her daughters, Char (Jason) Flaig and their family, Jordan, Joshua and Jasper of Medicine Hat; Brandy (Russell) Heath and their family, Trevor and McKenzy (Aaron) Leurguin and their daughter, Aydain all of Omaha, Nebraska; adopted daughter, Valerie Seitz and her family, Katarina (Miles) Dato and Alexandra Seitz and son-in-law, Laurie Seitz all of Medicine Hat and her brother, Larry Zmija. Debbie also leaves behind Wolfgang’s family: Toni Jordan, Werner (Louise) Wenslawski, Angie Wenslawski, Ralph (Cami) Bigge; numerous nieces and nephews as well as her dearest and closest friend, Michelle Compton. Debbie was predeceased by her husband, Wolfgang on February 9, 2015; parents, Gertrude and Alfred Zmija; parents-in-law, Paul and Alwine Bigge and brothers-in-law, Egon Jordan and Frank Wenslawski. Debbie was born on March 21, 1955, in Kitchener, Ontario and married Wolfgang Bigge on August 31, 1979. For the last 23 years, she worked at Hat News and Tobacco where she loved working in sales and enjoyed chatting with her customers. A Celebration of Debbie’s Life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in Debbie’s name may be directly to the SPCA, 55 Southwest Drive S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 8E8. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at http://www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455
FRED MELLEN 1932 – 2018 Frederick John Mellen, passed away in Bow Island on Friday, October 26, 2018 at the age of 86 years with his dear partner Lou Beard, by his side.
The Funeral Service will be held at St. Andrew's United Church, 139 – 2 Avenue West, Bow Island on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Fred will be lovingly remembered by his children Michelle “Mickey” (Kelly) Kimura of Coaldale and Shaun (Margaret) Mellen of Edmonton. Grandpa Fred will be forever missed by his grandchildren and great grandchildren Spencer (Sarah) White of Barnwell and their family Jackalyn and Freddy; Tyler (Mercedes) White of Taber and their family Gallifrey and Amelia; Ariel White of Summerland, British Columbia; Jessica (Russell) Bridgeman of Fort McMurray and their family Bryn, Bentley and Brooks; Amie (Brad) Dieno of Edmonton and their family Kylie and Kacey; Angie Mellen of Saskatoon; Christie, Brandon and Kaylie Mellen of Edmonton. Fred will also be remembered with love and fondness by his sister Helene Taylor of Calgary, brother-in-law Jack Mitchell of Orleans, Ontario and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by Dolly Mellen, the love of his life; his father Fred Rawleigh Mellen and mother Mildred Gladys Mellen; his mother-in-law Viola Annon and father-in-law Joe Annon; sisters-in-law Ila Terry, Audrey Mitchell, Joanne Havens and Gerry Annon; brothers-in-law William “Bill” Taylor, Bus Terry, Rollie Havens and Wayne Annon.
Fred was born in Redcliff, but spent the first fourteen years of his life in the Village of Tilley where his parents operated a grocery store, Mellen’s Grocery.
In 1946, Fred moved to Bow Island with his parents where again, they operated a grocery store for many years. During his teenage years, he got into all sorts of hijinks. He also concluded that high school did not agree with him much, and dropped out in Grade eleven. It was interfering with his ability to play and organize baseball and hockey games. It was during this time that he met and started dating Dolly Annon, the smartest decision he ever made.
Fred and Dolly were married in 1956 and remained happily married until Dolly passed away in 2011. They loved to dance especially to swing music from the Big Band era.
In 1950, Fred began working in Grantham with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), a job which he held for a couple of years. He did survey work as a rodman. He would later work for the PFRA while stationed in Vauxhall. In 1954, he was hired by Alberta Agriculture (Irrigation Division) and moved back to Bow Island. He initially worked as an instrument man and draftsman. From 1966 to 1968, Fred attended the Irrigation Technology program at Olds College. In 1975, Fred was promoted to the position of Technologist 4, the only person at this level in Alberta Agriculture. Fred continued to work with the Irrigation Division until his retirement in early 1988.
In the early 1980s, Fred successfully completed the Economic Development Programme at the University of Waterloo. Then, from 1988 to approximately 2001, Fred worked part time as the Economic Development Officer for the Town of Bow Island. He was heavily involved in encouraging businesses to come to Bow Island including the Alberta Bean Growers and Spitz. He also worked tirelessly on the committee which prepared the Town’s updated history book (A History of Bow Island and Area: Sage Brush to Pivots).
Fred loved Bow Island and gave countless hours of his time to the community in various capacities. He served a term as Mayor commencing in 1971; he served as a Councillor on three separate occasions (1965 – 66, 1971, and from 1976 to end of the term); he was a volunteer firefighter for seventeen years; he coached baseball and hockey for many years and served in various executive roles. In 1980, Fred and Dolly were recognized for twenty years of service to the Bow Island Minor Baseball and Hockey Association. He was on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, and served on various other committees and organizations.
In 1988, Fred was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Medicine Hat College. In 1992, Fred was awarded a Canada 125 medal.
In approximately 2012, Fred started to write ‘Down Memory Lane’ by “Old Fred Mellen”. These articles were published on a regular basis in the 40 Mile Commentator right up until the time of his passing.
Fred will be remembered by many as someone who got things done. He worked hard and expected everyone else to do the same. He had a true fighting spirit. But, he also loved to tell stories. He was an accomplished public speaker and could make people laugh. He enjoyed genealogy and desperately wanted to prove that he was Irish. And he loved all of those grandkids and great grandkids. May the memory of the “sucker tree” live on forever!
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Fred’s name may be made directly to the Bow Island Health Centre, Bag 3990, Bow Island, Alberta, T0K 0G0.
Special thanks to Dr. Woodruff who provided excellent care over the last number of years and Dr. Tawfeeq for his tremendous help in the past year. We also acknowledge the timely assistance of Gerald Mertz of RHS Medicine Hat over the last number of months. Finally, we truly appreciate the help of Bow Island Emergency Services and the Bow Island RCMP detachment on the evening of October 26, 2018.
ROBBY SULLIVAN Mr. Robby Sullivan passed away in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at the age of 39 years. Robby will be silently remembered by family and friends. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at http://www.cooksouthland.com) 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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