WEDNESDAY, February 20, 2019

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on February 20, 2019.

CHARLES BARR (1929-2019)

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Barr of Pincher Creek, who passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the Pincher Creek Health Centre on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at the age of 89 years. Charles is survived by his only child Jennifer Barr (Byron Thomas) and his two grandchildren: Donavan White (Brooke Slade), Heather White (Quinton Reese), and his first great grandchild Jackson Charles; his devoted constant companion Lenora Robarts as well as two special men who were like the sons he never had – Jake Christensen and Chris Christensen, along with many friends and neighbours. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at 1:00 PM at the Snodgrass Funeral Home in Pincher Creek (1101 Main Street).

BOHNET

EVAN DOUGLAS BOHNET, beloved husband of Cheryl Holmes, of Raymond, passed away at the Raymond Health Centre, on Monday February 11, 2019 at the age of 70 years.

A Small Memorial Service will be held at EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF LETHBRIDGE, 4717 – 24 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. with Pastor Wayne McNeilly officiating.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

Guntars Grintals

1934 – 2019

Guntars Jekabs Grintals of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Betty Grintals, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Friday, February 15th, at the age of 84 years, after living a life of compassion, courage, strength, dignity and determination. Thoughtful and kind as always, Guntars ensured he was around to spend one last Valentine’s Day with his lifelong sweetie, Betty. The child of Jekabs and Alise Grintals, Guntars was born in Tukums, Latvia on September 14, 1934, spending the first 10 years of his life at the family farm. In 1944, Guntars and his parents were forced to flee the farm as the Russians were invading Latvia. He and his parents spent 4 years in a German displaced persons camp, where Guntars learned English from an English professor also interned there. In 1948, the family boarded the ship Aquitania, bound for Canada. At the age of 14, Guntars served as the translator on the ship, between crew and passengers. His parents and he arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 13th. They settled in Lachine, Quebec. His parents eventually purchased two pieces of land along the River Rouge, in an area called Tervette, where Guntars and his father built a summer cottage and art studio. It was here, and through his parents, that Guntars developed his love of gardening. Tervette was a place that Guntars loved always, and later in life his wife and children came to love the area as well. In his teens and early adulthood, Guntars was active in sports, the arts, outdoor pursuits, Boy Scouts, Rover Scouts, Sea Scouts and acting. He also looked smashingly cool and suave in a Zoot suit and was a bit of a chick magnet. He attended Concordia University where he majored in English Literature, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He began working at the Girls Cottage School outside of St-Bruno, Quebec in 1960, as a teacher for at risk adolescent girls, and it was there that his heart was captured by Nurse Betty. He was besotted by her beauty, intelligence, and sass and there was no way she could resist his handsome stylishness and gentle, charming ways. This match made in heaven were married on August 12, 1961 and headed out west with the goals of starting a family and working to make the world a better place. After several moves around the province of Alberta, and one brief relocation back to Quebec in between, Guntars and Betty landed in Lethbridge, having acquired 3 noisy children, a few dogs, and his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary. Guntars’ career in Social Services spanned 32 years in different positions including Unit Supervisor in Lethbridge and Regional Manager in Coaldale. He was highly respected by his colleagues for his compassion, sense of fairness, intelligence and weird sense of humor. He was wholly respected by his children for just generally putting up with our hair-raising antics. An unbelievable mutlti-tasker, he also instilled within us the values of compassion, caring, community service, hard work, open-mindedness, love of animals and nature, higher education and equality for all. And of course the genetic predisposition to weird humor. Guntars was passionate about gardening, reading, astronomy and the outdoors. He and Betty also purchased a cabin at Grave Lake, BC where they spent much of their free time canoeing, fishing, exploring and ditching their two eldest children. In retirement, Guntars swung the occasional golf club and grandchild as well as spent time watering the grass and tending to the flower gardens Betty and he loved. He was also an avid stamp collector. Very avid….as in boxes, and boxes, and boxes of stamps. Probably even more boxes. Heavy boxes. Lots of boxes. On December 19th, 1997, Guntars and Betty were pre-deceased by their son, Curtis Grintals, a loss that forever added sadness to their lives. On November 25th, 1998, Guntars had a partial amputation of his left leg. With his usual dignity, determination and strength, he carried on steadfastly, refusing to let it slow him down. This led to more travel for Nurse Betty and him, including a cross country road trip, a European river cruise with a return to Latvia, and a 50th Anniversary love stop in Cuba. Occasionally, the two love birds would also venture to the West Coast, trying to convince their wayward middle kid to get her butt back home. In December of 2016, Guntars was diagnosed with an incurable rare form of cancerous soft tissue sarcoma. Again, he carried forward and pushed on, ensuring that those he loved would be taken care of as best as possible. On February 15th, 2019, Guntars passed quickly. The gentle giant, the wise old oak of the forest, was downed from all the forces he had stood so strong and tall against, for so long. He is survived by his beloved wife Betty Grintals, his two daughters Lisa McLellan and Erika Grintals, and his three grandchildren, Keegan McCartney, Braden Allred and Gage Dodds. We weep for your loss dad, and our hearts are heavy. Generous in nature, kind and fair, you have always been the model of what it means to be a good person. A genuinely nice person. Thank you for all you have taught us, all you have given to us, and the planet, during your time spent here. The world will not be a better place without you. Say hello to Curtis and send him our love. A Celebration of Guntars’ Life will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to The War Amps https://waramps.ca/home/.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a private condolence.

HIRONS

JOAN ANN HIRONS, beloved mother of Pamela Kimberley, passed away peacefully at St. Michael’s Health Centre on Monday, February 18, 2019 at the age of 89 years.

A Celebration of Joan’s life will be held at a later date in Toronto.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

Peter Hooge
1936 – 2019
Peter Henry Hooge, beloved husband of Mary Hooge, passed away in Taber, surrounded by family, on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at the age of 82 years.
A private service will be held at Southland Funeral Chapel on Thursday, February 21, 2019. A private burial will follow at the Taber Memorial Garden.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet the family in the lower hall at Knox United Church, 4929 – 50 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Besides his loving wife loving Mary, Peter is survived by their children Keith (Susan) Hooge of Purple Springs and their family Kristine (Cody) Oberholtzer and Loralee (Riley) Schlosser; Carol Hooge of Taber; Janet Vayro of California and her family Duane Vayro and Steven Vayro (and his son Liam); Pauline (John) Hymanyak of Okotoks and their children Joe and Kurt. He is also survived by his brother Edward (BettyAnn) Hooge of Red Deer; Sister Eilleen (Marvin) Gross of Grassy Lake and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his son Mark Hooge in 1960, his father Peter Hooge in 1954, his mother Martha Hooge in 1999 and by two great grandchildren.
Peter was born in Taber in June 6,1936. He attended one room school houses at Deer Park and Sherburne, south of Grassy Lake. After the death of his father he took over the farm at the age of eighteen. He met his wife Mary on Halloween Eve, 1958. She was nursing in Taber and was going back to England after two years. Four children and six grandchildren later, they lived at the farm in Purple Springs before moving to Taber. Peter and Mary would be celebrating their sixtieth Anniversary, this July 2019.
Though he retired from farming in 1982, Peter continued to help with farming every year. He was a hard worker who delighted in helping his children when ever needed. He also worked for Agriculture Financial Services Corporation for twenty five years and made many friends doing so. Also, when Knox United Church needed assistance, they would always call Peter.
We’ll meet again, don’t know where don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Peter’s name may be made directly to the Taber and District Health Foundation, 4326 – 50 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1N9 (www.tdhf.ca).
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.

OBERG

IRMA JEAN OBERG was called home on Friday, February 15, 2019 at the age of 93. She was born on July 1, 1925 in Raymond, Alberta to Nephi and Jessie Atwood, the eldest daughter in a family of seventeen siblings. She married Filip K. Oberg in 1944 and raised three loving children. She was deeply devoted to her children in all aspects of their lives. That commitment continued as she lovingly contributed to the growth and development of seventeen grandchildren. Her family was her biggest pride. After the death of her parents, both Irma and Filip acted as surrogate parents to several of her younger siblings as they grew to gain their own independence. To all who knew her, Irma was a unique and caring individual who touched the lives and hearts of all. Filip and Irma thoroughly enjoyed trailering with their many, many friends and frequently taking two or three grandchildren along. There wasn’t a single grandchild who didn’t benefit from a homemade pair of “Grandma’s Brand” denim jeans. Irma could be counted upon to liven up any card game or gathering with her enthusiasm and laughter. We will miss her every day. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Filip, of 56 years; brothers Lenard, Elden, Raymond, Lindsey, Logan, Gilbert, and Max; sisters Georgia Briggs, Nila Cook and Joyce Davies; and great grandchild, Nolyn Anderson. She is survived by her children Gary (Margaret), Dennis (Charleen) and Alma (Dale) Williams; seventeen grandchildren and thirty-eight great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff of the Raymond Good Samaritan Lodge and the Raymond Health Care Centre for their care and attention in Irma’s last days. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 with a meet the family at 11:00 – 11:50 am and the Funeral Service at noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10th AVENUE CHAPEL, 1912 – 10th Avenue South in Lethbridge with Branch President Lanny Howard officiating. Interment will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge.

To send condolences, please visit http://www.generationsfh.ca

Gerald Randa

1944 – 2019

Mr. Gerald Randa, of Lethbridge passed away at Legacy Lodge on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the age of 74 years. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, February 22, 2019 at ST. BASIL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH- 604 13 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, AB., Father Albert Sayson, celebrant. Interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

Helen Trockstad

1923 – 2019

It is with great sadness that the family of Helen Trockstad, beloved wife of the late Leif Trockstad, announce her passing on Friday, February 15, 2019, in Taber, Alberta after a brief illness at the age of 95 years. Helen was born in Eureka, Montana on April 26, 1923 to parents Carl and Vilo (Adams) Paulsen. Left to cherish her memory are daughter Brenda (Roy) Kowalchuk of Calgary, AB; son Doug (Shawna) Trockstad of New Dayton, AB; and daughter Kerry (Greg) Watson of Medicine Hat, AB. Grandma T will be sadly missed by Bradley Kowalchuk, Kevin (Toiy) Kowalchuk and their children, Kimberly and Donald. Steven (Hilde) Trockstad, Brett Trockstad (Kiera), Jesse (Antonio) Watson, Jocelyne (Jay) Abad and their children Rainn, Adonis and Apollo, Cole Watson (Alyssa and her son, Daemian), Myles Watson (Jessica and her children Jaden and Walker). Auntie Helen also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and their families. Besides her loving husband, Helen was predeceased by her parents Carl and Vilo Paulsen; infant sister Hazel; brother Norman Paulsen; sister-in-law Hazel Paulsen; sister Thea Chapman; brother-in-law Frank Chapman; brother-in-laws and their spouses, Harold (Myrtle) Trockstad, Roald Trockstad, and Alf (Janet) Trockstad. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Reverend Aldeen McKay officiating. A Private Family interment will be held prior in the Mountain View Cemetery. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #4, 324 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 3L7.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

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