January 24, 2023
By Obituaries on January 24, 2023.
GERRIT VERMEER
1930 GERRIT VERMEER – 2023 Celebrating the life of Gerrit (Jerry) Vermeer, we as a family announce that at the age of 93, Gerrit passed away peacefully on Friday, January 20, 2023, with family at his side, in Onoway, Alberta. He is survived by his loving wife Maria (Mary) Vermeer (Holleman) and his six children: Trudy (John) Vander Veen, Pieter (Grace) Vermeer, Marvin Vermeer, Gerrit B (Karla) Vermeer, Janet (Don) Pelzer, and Michele (Dave) Archutick. He was blessed with 15 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter as well as many nieces and nephews.
Gerrit was born January 18, 1930, to Marinus and Trijntje (Boender) Vermeer in a small village called Honselersdyk in The Netherlands. He was predeceased by his parents; Marinus and Trijntje Vermeer of The Netherlands; his brother Pieter Vermeer of Lethbridge, Alberta, and his sister Trijntje who passed away in childhood. He is survived by his brother Ben Vermeer in The Netherlands. He grew up in The Netherlands at his parent’s greenhouse. He immigrated to Canada in 1951, at the age of 21, settling near Brandon Manitoba. It was at the Brandon Christian Reformed Church, that he met and married Mary Holleman in 1954. In the following years the Lord gave them six children. In 1970 he moved his family to Calgary for one year. In 1971 an opportunity to develop a greenhouse operation in Redcliff, Alberta required another move for his family. Gerrit operated his family greenhouse business from 1971-1989. Although Gerrit had been raised in and faithfully attended church, in 1973 he recognized his need of a Saviour and made Jesus Lord of his life. The years that followed, in Redcliff, were years of service and commitment to follow God’s plan for his life. Once the children were grown, Gerrit and Mary transitioned into retirement by setting up the ‘Daybreak’ Bed and Breakfast in Kimberly, BC. In 1995 they returned to Alberta, settling in Three Hills, establishing the ‘Touch of Dutch’ Bed and Breakfast which they operated together. In 2017, Gerrit and Mary retired to the Aspen Villa in Three Hills and enjoyed 4 years of a quieter lifestyle. In the fall of 2021, his family assisted with moving them to the Chateau Lac St Anne in Onoway, Alberta.
Gerrit was a faithful and supportive husband, father, and grandfather. His love of music was reflected in his singing and participation in worship with his baritone horn. He loved to garden, taking great satisfaction in sharing produce with his family, friends, and neighbors. His quick wit and ready comments brought much amusement to those he met. Family members were hard pressed to keep up with him in a game of Triple Yahtzee. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, January 26 at Onoway Baptist Church 5036 48 Avenue, Onoway, Alberta, at 1 pm. The livestream service link will be posted on the http://www.onowaybaptist.ca website. A family internment service will occur prior to this.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jewish Voice Ministries Canada. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/jewish-voice-ministries-canada. Family and friends who wish to pay their respects may do so on the Serenity Funeral Service Website https://serenity.ca/obituary.
MARIE NIWA
1928 ~ MARIE NIWA ~ 2023
Marie Jose Niwa of Medicine Hat, passed away on Wednesday, January 11th, 2023 at the age of 94 years. The Funeral Service was held Saturday at Holy Family Parish, 1451 Strachan Road SE, MEDICINE HAT, AB T1B 4V3. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Marie Niwa. Funeral arrangements 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.
RONALD SCOTT
RONALD SCOTT 1936 ~ 2023
Ronald “Ron” James Scott passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at the age of 86 years, beloved husband of Beatrice Scott of Alsask, Saskatchewan. Cremation has been entrusted to the Pattison Funeral Home. To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
LINDA HAMEL
LINDA HAMEL 1949 ~ 2023 Linda Hamel passed away on Monday, January 23, 2023, at the age of 74 years, beloved wife of Andy Hamel of Medicine Hat. Family and friends will gather for prayers at the PATTISON CHAPEL on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be celebrated in the Holy Family Parish (1451 Strachan Road SE) on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Naveed Arif celebrant. Private interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery. To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
STUART SMITH
STUART SMITH March 21, 1940 January 18, 2023
Stuart Melville Smith passed away peacefully on January 18, 2023, at the age of 82 years, with his family by his side at St. Joseph’s Carmel Hospice, Medicine Hat. He is survived by his wife Donna Jean (nee Deacon), and his two children Andrew (Drew) Smith (Meagan Enticknap, Ellie, Finn and Olwen) and Pamela Hossack (John Hossack, Molly and Bennett), his sister-in-law Jane Smith of Brampton, Ontario, and brother-in-law Cal Deacon (Tracy) of Vancouver, and many nieces and nephews. Stuart was predeceased by his father John Melville Smith, his mother Alice May Smith (nee Bell), his brother David of Brampton, Ontario, and his sister Jocelyn Knowles (Colin) of Calgary. Stuart was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Vancouver where he met Donna, the love of his life, and a remarkable group of high school friends, with whom they spent numerous summers in Kelowna and visited as much as possible over the decades. Married in 1963, the young couple were transferred to Alberta in 1968 for Stuart’s work with International Harvester, eventually opening a dealership in Medicine Hat in 1975 Doram-Smith Services International Ltd. A lifelong learner, at the age of 44 years, Stuart went back to school, taking a year of history at the Medicine Hat College. While his family stayed in Medicine Hat, Stuart moved to Edmonton in 1986 to study at the University of Alberta and earned his law degree in 1990. Back in Medicine Hat, Stuart practiced law alongside Greg Cote, and finished his career as Duty Council at the Medicine Hat Courthouse, work that he found particularly rewarding. For many years, Stuart was an active member of the Medicine Hat Rotary Club where he regularly volunteered at the annual Music Festival. In his retirement, Stuart indulged his love of reading and listening to jazz music. While volunteering at the Medicine Hat Archives, he was able to apply his interest in local history by helping to build a database of digitized land records. Above all, Stuart was a loving husband and father, who as a younger man found time to coach hockey and lead a Boy Scout Cub Pack, and in his later years he travelled around Canada and further afield to spend time with his children and grandchildren. For nearly 50 years, Stuart and Donna called Medicine Hat home, raising their two children among a wonderful group of friends, with whom Stuart regularly demonstrated his quick wit and sense of humour. In recent years, the warm and generous support of their neighbours was a great help in coping with Stuart’s declining health. Our family would like to thank Dr. Prince of Medicine Hat, Dr. Cheng at Calgary’s Tom Baker Cancer Clinic, and numerous other caring members of the Alberta Health Services in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, our family would encourage gifts in Stuart’s memory to St. Joseph’s Carmel Hospice and the Medicine Hat Food Bank. A Celebration of Life is being planned for March and further details will be shared closer to the date. To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
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