FRIDAY, September 16, 2022

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on September 16, 2022.

GILMORE

ALEXANDER “ALEX” RONALD GILMORE passed away on September 5, 2022 at the age of 64 years old.

A Celebration of Alex’s Life will be held at COAST HOTEL, 526 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. with Reverend Glenda Wert officiating. The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed via Alex’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

KNIGHT

Lennis Craig Knight, 76, of Gann Valley, SD, and Chatham, IL, passed away Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Lennis was born July 5, 1946, in Chamberlain, SD, the son of Wayne and Bertha (DeJong) Knight.

Lennis grew up in Gann Valley, SD, and enjoyed working on the family farm in his retirement, including planting 500 trees last year alone.

His long career as a USDA veterinarian for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service led him to work in many different states, including Illinois, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Michigan, and in southern Alberta, Canada, where he owned his own veterinary practice.

Lennis married Julie Spengler July 5, 2008, in Helena, MT, and the couple traveled often between their homes in Chatham and Highmore, SD, to their favorite camping area in central Michigan, and to visit their children in the Midwest and Canada. His work also took them to different U.S. ports to use his skills as an epidemiologist and inspector, and to horse racetracks, where he enjoyed the festivities as a spectator once work was complete.

He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University in 1973 and would often tell stories of his many odd jobs that paid his way through school and his early-in-life amateur boxing career. He had a penchant for nice Western shirts and cowboy boots, a booming laugh that could be heard across a room, great pride in his children and grandchildren, and a love for spoiling the family dogs with “snacks”.

Lennis is survived by his wife, Julie; siblings: Curtis Knight (Diane Bassham) of Gann Valley, Virginia Manning (Jim) of Arlington, SD, Debra Knight of Rapid City, SD, and Bruce Knight (Julie) of Fairfax, VA; five children: Tania Holzli (Andy) of Blackfalds, AB, Eric Knight of Coaldale, AB, Tiffany Knight (Vlad) of Toronto, ON, Jessica Knight (Josh) of Toronto, ON, and Dakota Knight of Sylvan Lake, AB; three stepdaughters: Jessie Burrell (Zachary) and Sarah McCoy (Jacob), both of New Berlin, IL, and Rachel DeGuzman (Jeremy) of Ann Arbor, MI; grandchildren: Brian, Scott, Hugo, Julius, Isadora, Florence and Evelyn; and great-grandchildren: Wakely, Westlynn and Wrylee.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 1, 2022, at First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. First Ave., Miller, SD. Lennis will be laid to rest at a future date at Spring Hill Cemetery in rural Gann Valley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you plant a tree in Lennis’ memory.

Anthony (Tony) Lagemaat

1966 – 2022

Anthony (Tony) Lagemaat of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre on September 13, 2022 the age of 55 years.

Tony had a passion for riding his bike as often and wherever he could. He also enjoyed traveling with Joel, his son, and visiting with him in Vancouver. Tony’s store, Lethbridge Sewing Centre (with the Big Yellow Button), meant so much to him – much more for the relationships developed than just the business itself. His interaction with the staff and the many loyal customers will be deeply missed.

Tony is survived by his son Aren Joel Lagemaat; his mother Tina; his sister Sylvia (Rob) Drake and nephew Steven (Chrystal); his brother Ron (Annette) and niece Destiny (Thomas) Dilley, niece Danielle (Price) Leurebourg, nephew Zachary (Alexandra); and niece Mikhaila and great-niece Nova.

Tony was pre-deceased by his father, Arend, and sister, Irene.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Tony’s life was held at 2:00 pm on, Thursday, September 15, 2022, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 4 St S, Lethbridge.

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

Kit Yee Lau

1921 – 2022

Kit Yee Lau of Lethbridge, Alberta, beloved wife of the late Yeung Lau, graduated to Heaven at the youthful age of 101 years old, on September 9, 2022, at 4:45 am at St. Michael’s Health Centre.

Kit Yee is survived by her brother Benson (Gloria); 3 nephews, 2 grand-nephews; her 11 children, Lily Choy (the late Edward), the late Chun Dok (Sai Sze), Chun Chau (Wai Lin), Shandy (the late Dan), Chun Yik (Janet), Tommy (Amy), Tony (Thelma), Irene (Raymond), Dominic (Joyce), Josie and Vanco; 24 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great- grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her son, Chun Dok; sons-in-law, Edward and Dan.

Friends and Family can pay their respects at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610, 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta.

A Viewing will be held from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday September 20, 2022.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.

To watch the service via livestream, please go to https://www.mbfunerals.com/ obituary/Kit-Lau and scroll to the bottom of the obituary page. The family also invites anyone who wishes to leave a written condolence, share a memory or upload a photo to Kit Yee’s tribute wall.

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

JAMES “JIM” THOMAS MANIS JR.

1949 – 2022

Mr. James “Jim” Thomas Manis Jr. of Lethbridge, passed away on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at the age of 72 years.

Jim was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, on December 17, 1949, the youngest of five boys. He grew up in Cascade Locks, Oregon, developing an adventurous spirit that eventually led to his joining the U.S. Coast Guard at the age of seventeen. While stationed in Astoria, OR, Jim and his first wife Carol started their small family with the birth of Danielle in 1971. They carried on the adventures moving to Seattle, Norway, and later Edmonton, AB. Jim earned a PhD from the University of Washington after which teaching was his life’s work. He eventually moved to Lethbridge, AB, where he retired from teaching at the Lethbridge College.

Jim taught a varied range of subjects to a diverse range of learners. In Norway he taught middle and high schoolers, in Seattle and Edmonton he taught University students Scandinavian language and literature, and at the Lethbridge College he taught multimedia design.

Throughout his career, Jim inspired hundreds of students with his confidence in them, his light-hearted and witty approach and his deep belief that everyone was highly creative. There were many all-nighters spent in the computer lab, where Jim would stay to encourage and assist all who needed him.

Jim was an accomplished guitar player, a dedicated golfer, a polyglot, a motorcycle rider who loved being “in the twisties”, a gardener and bread baker, and a lifelong learner. He was a man of vast intellect who was occasionally astonishingly absent-minded, much to the hilarity of his many friends and colleagues. He was unique and witty and tried very hard to be a good dancer.

Jim was predeceased by his first wife, Carol in 2010.

He is survived by his wife Valerie; daughter Danielle; many nieces and nephews from his brothers; Carol’s sisters Janet (Mico), Margie (Sol), Rebecca, Jacob; Peggy (Dan) and Bob (Denice) William, Ian, Malcolm; Helen, Harry and Stephanie; stepdaughters Jessica (Daniel) and Robin; his dear granddaughter Lucianne; friend and mother-in-law Ardis; in-laws Leanne and Glen, Dawn and Ralpoh, Jay and Kristi; nieces, nephews and their families; Chris (Tia), Rory and Sawyer; Josh (Jennifer), Azlynn; Jacob (Meaghan), Cleo; Dan (Stephanie), Thea and Skye; Courtney; Graeme (Emily), Maeve and Myles; Bryde (Chris), Charlie, Jasper and Goldie; Imogen; good friends Faron and Leanne; Tanya and Grace; Janet and Mico; and always, in peace and love and a thousand memories, Mo.

Surely no one will be surprised that Jim would be as generous a teacher in death as he was in life – and so far, all who knew and loved him, who now find themselves missing him, he left us all with this final instruction:

“First, we must recall that the Cosmos is extremely old, and almost unimaginably vast in time and space, so highly improbable things happen there quite frequently, on the cosmic time scale. Now, what I am about to say is true of all living, breathing creatures that have ever existed on planet Earth, but given my current predicament, I feel justified in making it all about me, and for some time to come, about you. About us. I realize that it may seem like woo-woo, or magical thinking, but I assure you it isn’t. It is a simple matter of unimaginably small entities, acting out their parts.

So, here it goes…

Draw a deep breath, hold it for a moment, and exhale.

Every time you to that, you will have breathed in 10-20 atoms of breath that I have drawn and exhaled at various points in my lifetime.

In purely physical terms, that is our connection.”

Thank you, Jim.

At Jim’s request, there will be no formal Memorial Service, but in time there will surely be a party – so get your best Jim story ready. Someone has already claimed The Comet Jim story ‘but there are so very many, you’ll be fine.

Jim loved small creatures of all kinds and if you are considering a memorial gift, please choose your favourite children’s or animal charity.

Many thanks to the nurses, doctors, and home care staff who helped Jim through the course of his illness. A special thanks to everyone at the Palliative Care Unit at St. Michael’s for easing his way.

Please Send Condolences to: http://www.evergreenfh.ca

REIMER

With heaviness of heart we announce that KAREN ANN REIMER, beloved wife of the late Ben Reimer, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Friday, December 4, 2020 at the age of 75 years.

A Celebration of Karen’s Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. with Patrick Siedlecki officiating.

A private Family Interment will be held.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

Gerd William Voelske

November 5, 1931 – August 19, 2022

Gerd William Voelske of Lethbridge passed away on August 19, 2022 at the age of 90 years.

Gerd was born in Bad Polzin, East Prussia, Germany on November 5, 1931 to Willi and Karolina Volzke. In 1945 his family fled their home for the west towards British occupation as the borders were redrawn at the close of WW11. At the age of 21, Gerd emigrated to Canada, settling in Winnipeg where he met and married his beloved wife, Christel. They moved to Calgary, Alberta the following year and settled in Lethbridge, Coaldale, and finally Nobleford (1978 – 2017).

In Germany, Gerd was trained as an engineer and was a shift supervisor in the coal mines. After emigrating to Canada, he worked as a contractor and carpenter, employed as a foreman by Kenwood Construction in Lethbridge before starting his own construction company. His projects encompassed a broad range of structures including bridges, hotels, the Exhibition Grandstand in Lethbridge and most notably the Fort Whoop-Up historical reconstruction in 1967.

Gerd’s interest in keeping touch with family overseas sparked an interest in electronics and ham operating that saw him become licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator actively transmitting and receiving Morse Code transmissions from all over the globe (1962 – 2022). Radios evolved into the first home-built computers in the 70’s and continued on providing a second career in computer programming. Gerd also had a sideline project where he trained young people on computer technology and often donated repurposed equipment to them.

Bookkeeping required for his business meant that Gerd continued his college education during evenings and weekends over many years. He branched out with accounting services out of his home office in the evenings and on weekends. Tax time provided a secondary income well past retirement. He continued to complete all of his taxes on his own including the 2021 tax year.

Gerd never ceased to learn. He filled his last years with writing his memoirs, photo editing, researching particle physics, and learning how to repair pocket watches. He always had at least a few plants in his life, but at the end had a garden on his balcony year-round. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. Throughout all of his endeavors Gerd focused on spending as much time as possible with his extended family; he encouraged curiosity in the universe in all who met him and was loved by all.

Gerd is survived by his daughter Cynthia James; son-in-law James Piper; grandchildren David Goertzen, Daryl (Pamela) Goertzen, Jasmine (Jim) Lee, Steven (Lindsey) Reedyk, Alison Piper and Trysten Piper; great grandchildren Kira Jaworenko, Adrian Reedyk, Morgan Reedyk, Ryker Jaworenko, Benjamin Goertzen, Ada Goertzen, Ethan Lee and Amelia Lee; sisters Ingrid Ireland, Elvira MacKinnon, and Sigrid (Don) Bouck. Gerd was predeceased by his wife Christel (2020), daughters Katherine Piper (2003), Christine Goertzen (2020), parents Willi and Karolina Volzke, and brother Jurgen Volzke.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Pastor Greg Kern officiating. Inurnment to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

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

Jacquie West

1932 – 2022

  Jacqueline West (née Ririe), beloved wife of the late Allen Dee West, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at the age of 89 years.

  Relatives and friends are invited to meet the family at the church prior to the funeral service on Saturday, September 17, 2022 between

10:00 A.M. to 10:40 A.M.

  The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4709 – 50 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, September 17,

2022 at 11:00 A.M.  Burial to follow at the Barnwell Cemetery.

Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com [1].

   Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone:

(403) 223-8778.

WYTON

WYTON, (Vera) Ruth passed away in Brooks, AB on Monday, September 12, 2022 at the age of 85 years. Further details to follow.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

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