September 15, 2021

By Obituaries on September 15, 2021.

ALDA KERNER

1940 – 2021

Alda Kerner passed away peacefully surrounded by the love and comfort of her family at the Bow Island Health Centre on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the age of 81 years after a brave battle with Scleroderma for several years. 
Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1113 – 1 Street East, Bow Island on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 7:00 P.M.  Those who are unable to attend and wish to view the service online may do so by visiting Alda’s obituary page on our website and clicking on the livestream link that will be available at at 6:45 P.M. on Friday, September 17, 2021.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1113 – 1 Street East, Bow Island on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 11:00 A.M.  Those who are unable to attend and wish to view the service online may do so by visiting Alda’s obituary page on our website and clicking on the livestream link that will be available at at 10:45 A.M. on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Facemasks are mandatory and will be available upon entry.
Alda will be laid to rest beside her son Curtis at the Bow Island Cemetery. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Besides her loving husband, Henry, she is survived by their children Teresa (Greg) Drescher of Fort Worth, Texas, Darla (Dale) Hurt of Bow Island, Darcy (Kris) Kerner of Chestermere and Rhea (Blake) Jurgens of Lethbridge; grandchildren Chassidy (Adam), Alecia (Stephen), Brandon, Brock (Gimena), Cam (Nebriah), Chandelle (Phil), Devon (Kaylee), Tyler (Kim), Jordan (Weston), Brooklyn (Kyle), Kayley, Tiffany, Jace (Jozie), Janae and Jaden (Cody); great grandchildren Olivia, Ethan, Keegan, Kaleb, Sienna, Thaedeon, Brooks, Beau, Brandt, Emma, Everly and Jaxon. She is also survived by her brother George (Suzanne) Eisler of Wawota, Saskatchewan; in-laws Lawrence (Lucette) Kerner, Emma Kerner, Gail Kerner and Al Davis.
She was predeceased by her son Curtis in 1987 and her parents Marie and William Eisler.  
 Alda was born in Wawota, Saskatchewan on June 25, 1940 and was raised on the family farm in Manor, Saskatchewan. She met her soulmate Henry in 1958 at the bank where she worked in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. They were married April 23, 1960 and together they raised their family in Bow Island.
Throughout her years, Alda worked as a bank teller, telephone operator, bus driver and was the secretary for the many of her and Henry’s businesses right up until her passing. 
Alda loved spending time and making memories with her family and friends, travelling to her second home in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, spending time at the lake, music, dancing, reading, relaxing in the sunshine, playing cards and especially beating someone at crib. 
In her earlier years she enjoyed racing her stockcar #16 in which she won many trophies, curling socially and competitively in which she also has many trophies to display, camping, golfing, winters in Arizona and fishing on Vancouver Island. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion ladies auxiliary and a volunteer driver for the Bow Island Ambulance. 
Alda had a very warm and welcoming personality, beautiful smile and had a work ethic like no other. 
Our hearts are broken trying to figure out how to live without her and so grateful we got to live with her and create so many beautiful memories.
If friends so desire, please consider making a donation in memory of Alda directly to Scleroderma Canada, 41 King William Street, Unit 203, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 1A2 (http://www.scleroderma.ca), the Bow Island Health Centre, Bag 3990, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0 or to the Bow Island Fire Department (please make cheque payable to the Town of Bow Island and indicate for fire department), Box 100, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0. 
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.

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FRIESZ, Rick Edwin

December 8, 1953 – September 5, 2021

Rick passed away comfortably at age 67 at the Red Deer Hospice surrounded by loving family, on Saturday, September 5, 2021 after a valiant and courageous battle with Leukemia and Lymphoma. He will be remembered as a loving and strong father, uncle and grandfather. Rick was born in Medicine Hat Alberta to Tena and Edwin Friesz December 8, 1953. He excelled in baseball and hockey as a youth, even winning a little league baseball national pennant in 1966 with the Richardson Reds. After graduating high school, Rick attended Princeton University on a full hockey scholarship, graduating with a degree in Environmental Geology in 1976. Attending an Ivy League University in the US was a very big deal for a kid from small town Alberta, and something of which he was immensely proud of along with the wonderful lifelong friendships he made with his team mates and classmates at Princeton.
Rick met the love of his life Barb through mutual friends at a party in the Winter of 1976, and they were married August 30, 1980. Living in Calgary until 1985, and moving to Red Deer to settle and raise their family that spring in the family home on West Park crescent in 1988. Rick always loved playing, coaching, watching, and being around sports his whole life. He was an avid fan of the Montreal Canadiens, and more sensibly later in life the Calgary Flames. He was a long time member at the Lacombe Golf and Country Club and loved playing, as well as watching golf. Especially The Masters tournament, and the potential for a Fred Couples charge on the weekend. His summers were spent at the family cabin on Buffalo Lake, Alberta. Rick loved to go fishing, and kept busy puttering around the yard at the cabin. He made lasting friendships with the wonderful community in Rochon Sands, and was always up for a campfire and a cold beer.
Rick will be lovingly remembered by his wife Barb, son Richard (spouse Anita), daughter Brittany (spouse Ben), and his 8 grandchildren; Madeleine, Griffin, Clara, Jake, Marshall, Wesley, Arthur and baby arriving Feb 2022. Rick is predeceased by his Mother Tena Friesz (nee Kundert) Father Edwin (Cy) Friesz, and is survived by his sisters Sherry (spouse Walter), Pam (spouse Glen) and brother Corey (spouse Holly) and numerous nieces and nephews, friends and family in Medicine Hat, AB.
A celebration of life for Rick will be held at Parkland Funeral Home on Friday, September 10th at 1:00pm. For those unable to attend, please go to http://www.parklandfuneralhome.com and click on the Live Stream button. In lieu of flowers, skate laces, rolls of duct tape or jars of odd screws, donations can be made to the Red Deer Hospice Society, and the Central Alberta Cancer Center at Red Deer Regional Hospital. Condolences may be sent or viewed at http://www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

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LOUISE WUTZKE

1936 – 2021
Louise Wutzke, beloved wife of the late Bill Wutzke, passed away in Bow Island on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at the age of 85 years.
Those who wish to pay their respects may do so at the church prior to the funeral service on Friday, September 17, 2021 between 1:00 P.M. and 1:45 P.M.
The Funeral Service will be held at St. Andrew’s United Church, 139 – 2 Avenue West, Bow Island on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. Burial to follow at the Bow Island Cemetery. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Louise is survived by her best friend Peter Schile of Bow Island; her daughter Lynn Strom of Bow Island and her children Michael (Jennifer) Knapik (their family Hudson, Scout, Poet and Ruby), Leanne Taylor, Lisa Knapik (Chantel Berkley), Sarah (Jon) Lehn and their father Doug (Carol) Knapik; her son Bruce (Cheryl) Wutzke of Grayson, Saskatchewan and their children Eric Wutzke and Rebecca Wutzke (Kirby Spasoff). She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jeni Gibson and by numerous nieces, nephews and special cousins.
She was predeceased by her husband William Wutzke, son-in-law Al Strom, parents Eugene and Katherina Gibson and her brother Harold Gibson.
Louise was born in Medicine Hat on January 13, 1936 to Eugene and Katherina (nee Ditto) Gibson. She attended Conquerville Consolidated School. It was here that she met the love of her life, her sweetheart Bill Wutzke. They began dating when she was in grade four.
Bill and Louise were married on October 29, 1955 and took over the farm when his folks retired to Bow Island. Lynn was born in 1957, followed by Bruce in 1959. Bill took flying lessons and in 1964 they purchased T&D Aerial Spraying Ltd. In 1978, Bill and Louise moved to their new home in Bow Island and relocated their agriculture spray business to the new airport there while continuing to farm.
Together Bill and Louise spent many winters in Arizona as rockhounding snowbirds, and were charter members of the Medicine Hat Rock and Lapidary Club. Bill and Louise made many good friends along the way, adding to their lifelong farm community friends. They officially retired from farming in 2015.
After Bill’s passing in 2017, Louise was given a second chance at true love with Peter Schile. She will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by Peter, her family and her friends.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Louise’s name may be made directly to HALO Air Ambulance, 12, 49 Viscount Avenue SW, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 5G4 (www.haloairambulance.com).

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