TUESDAY, December 9, 2019

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on December 10, 2019.

GILLETT

JOE GILLETT SR., beloved husband of the late Grace Gillett, passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital surrounded by his family on Monday, December 9, 2019 at the age of 91 years.

Funeral arrangements will be announced once completed.

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

Lyle Lawson
1941 – 2019
Lyle Maxwell Lawson, passed away in Taber on Monday, December 9, 2019 at the age of 78 years.
The service in celebration of Lyle’s life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion, 5205 – 48 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.

Susan Lynn Leslie

October 13, 1965 – December 6, 2019

Ms. Susan Leslie of Lethbridge passed away at St. Michael’s Palliative Care Unit, on Friday, December 6, 2019, at the age of 54 years. Sue quietly passed away after several years of failing health, stemming originally from breast cancer. She was an avid 10 pin bowler as well as a passionate bowling coach for Special Olympics. She bravely battled cancer and all of its subsequent complications and always kept a positive outlook, never giving up the fight. She was predeceased by her father, David and mother, Beryl as well as her grandparents, aunts and uncles. She is loved and survived by her only brother David; sister-in-law Denise; nephew Brett and niece Cassidy as well as her cherished fur babies Amber, Victor and Cosmo. Sue will be privately remembered by friends and family. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations to any animal rescue/shelter are appreciated.

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

Anne Olson

1926 – 2019

A limb has fallen from our family tree. Anne Olson passed away at the Good Samaritan Garden Vista Memory Care Cottage in Magrath, Alberta, on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at the age of 93 years. Anne Olson began her journey in this world on August 18th, 1926 in Soszno, Pinsk, Poland. She was the youngest of two children born to Aleksander and Viera Malyszcziki. Anne’s older brother Nick, 4 years her senior, sadly was a casualty of the second world war, passing two weeks before the war ended. Anne was educated in Poland and worked in Germany. While living in Europe, Anne learned to speak Polish, German, Russian and Ukrainian. Living through the hardships of World War II prompted Anne to emigrate to Canada. She travelled across the Atlantic Ocean, landing in Halifax on April 23rd, 1949 with her young son Genady (Ken). Traveling even further across Canada Anne chose to settle in Southern Alberta. Unable to speak English initially, Anne found work as a laborer in the sugar beet fields before moving to a farm in Warner in 1950 where she lived until 2017. Warner was where she learned to speak English and she found her true calling – Farm life. Anne loved gardening, growing a large vegetable garden every year. Flowers were her joy with Gladiolas being her favorite flowers. She raised a variety of animals and even picked rocks in the fields. She also loved to quilt and crochet. Her pieces were works of art. Anne also loved to sing and dance. Anne was truly fearless, a hard worker and one of a kind. There is nothing she would not attempt. Including making homemade wine. Anne was also an amazing cook. She was well known for her ability to set a feast on her table when company came calling. Anne had a gift for making the most delicious cabbage rolls and perogies. Her grandchildren loved Grandma’s homemade bread and homemade jam. Anne Olson was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a great, great grandmother. She was a complex personality who was strong willed, feisty and passionate in her views. She either liked you or she did not. Some still wonder on which side they stood. After 63 years on the farm, June 2017 Anne moved into The Good Samaritan’s Garden Vista Assisted Living residence in Magrath Alberta. February 2019, Anne was transferred to the Good Sam’s Memory Care Cottage where her journey across two continents ended. Anne Olson’s family wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone associated with Good Sam’s in Magrath for the extraordinary care, love and compassion shown her during her years at the facility and in her final days. Thank you also to Dr. Kenneth Dahl and the on-call doctors for their support. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at 11:00am, on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta. Anne requested a Graveside Service with family and close friends. This will be held at 1:00pm, on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at the WARNER CEMETERY, Range Rd 173, Warner, Alberta, with Pastor Jason Carroll officiating. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Good Samaritans Garden Vista Magrath Memory Care Cottage – attention Lori Sanford, 37 East 2 Ave N, Magrath AB T0K 1J0.

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

Peggy Takashima

1941 – 2019

It is with regret and sadness that we announce the passing of Peggy Anne (nee FRY) Takashima, dearly beloved wife of George Masazo Takashima, at St. Michael’s Palliative Care Unit on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at the age of 78 years. Besides her loving husband George, Peggy is survived by her daughters Cheryl (Paul) Lenthall, Arlene (Joe) Yakielashek and son Raymond (Yvette) Takashima; eight grandchildren, Robyn (Richard) Miller, Kyle Knodel and Graham Lenthall, Brendan and Kayla Yakielashek, Chandra (Duncan), Jessie-Rae, and Kiernan Takashima; and two great grandchildren Ethan and Kataleya. She is also survived by one brother, John Fry, a nephew and three nieces. Peggy Anne was born in Holland, MB, to the late Shirley and Clifford Fry. She grew up in Holland and Winnipeg, MB. After graduating from Churchill High School in Winnipeg, she went to work at London Life Insurance Co. When she moved to Pinawa, MB, she was secretary to the reactor engineers at Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment. She worked in law firms in The Pas, MB, and in Pembroke, ON. She partnered with a good friend of hers and opened and ran Grampa John’s Drive Inn in Winnipegosis, MB. While living in Yorkton, SK, she was manager of the Yorkton Tourism Association. In Brandon, MB, she worked as a paraoptometric assistant. Peggy was a quick learner and put her whole mind to learning new things. Peggy enjoyed socializing with her friends – old and new alike. She enjoyed curling, golfing, and taking walks hither and yon. She enjoyed playing bridge and was active in several bridge groups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Peggy loved to travel and made two trips to Europe and several to Japan. She enjoyed hosting Japanese female students who came to Lethbridge to study at the college and university. Wherever she lived – in ten communities across the prairie provinces and Ontario – she was deeply involved in the life and work of each community. In the past twenty-five years living in Lethbridge, she became involved in numerous community organizations, including Friends of the Library and the Lethbridge Branch of Blankets for Canada. In particular, she was highly involved in Lions Clubs International – over fifty years as an active Lion. At the time of her passing, she was active in the West Lethbridge Lions Club. Church and faith meant a lot to Peggy. She was active in the Southern AB Japanese United Church in Lethbridge. Over the years, she was deeply involved in the life and work of the church at the Presbytery and Conference levels in the three prairie provinces. When Peggy committed herself to work on a committee, she was right in there and tackled the various issues that may arise in committee work. She spent many years on the Waterton Lake United Church Camp Board and served as treasurer for a few years. We will miss her presence among us. She kept the family together and was always ready to share her wisdom and understanding on a variety of issues and topics. May our Lord and Saviour be with her and with the family members. Rest in peace, Peggy. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 12, 2019, at the ITALIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, 1511 St. Edward Blvd North, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Pastor Eva Stanley officiating. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Southern AB Japanese United Church, 821-9 Street North, Lethbridge, Alberta, or to the West Lethbridge Lions Club, 2808 5 Avenue North, Lethbridge, Alberta. Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.

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

WIERSMA

We sure hope our dad makes it to his memorial this week—he might be too busy!! He’s got things to do,

you know!

It is with heartbreaking sadness that our beloved dad’s journey here has come to an end. WILLIAM WIERSMA passed away peacefully in Lethbridge, AB with family by his side after a two year fight with bladder cancer. He was 80 years old.

He is survived by his four loving children, Lorry & Murray Dorren, James & Deb Wiersma, Cindy & Mark Matheson, and Dwight & Kelsey Wiersma; ten grandchildren, Sarah (Liam) Plunkett, Brayden & Kolby Dorren, Caitlin Wiersma, Cody (Samantha) Wiersma, Spencer (Alysha) Matheson, Finley Matheson, and Lizzy, Lee & Lucas Wiersma; and four great-grandchildren, Austin & Rowan Poytress, and Lyla & Brexton Plunkett. He is also survived by his two sisters, Tine & Folkje, and his brother, Tette Wiersma, along with their families in Holland. We will all miss him dearly.

He was predeceased by his wife and our lovely mother, Elisabeth Reurink, in January 1994; his parents, Wijbren Wiersma & Gritje de Vries (Holland), and his brothers, Theo (Golden, BC) and Al Wiersma (Bonnyville, AB), along with many extended family members.

Bill was born January 29, 1939 in Burgwerd, Holland. He came to Canada in May 1957. He boarded the ship S.S. Groote Beer in Rotterdam when he was 18 years old along with his brother Theo. They ported in Montreal after a two week trip across the Atlantic ocean. He then took a cattle train across Canada to Southern Alberta, where he built a wonderful life. He lived in Picture Butte where he butchered meat, met and married a beautiful bride, and filled his life with four children. In 1973 he moved to Lethbridge where he worked at Canada Packers for most of his career.

He was extremely passionate about hunting and fishing and filled our house with many trophies of his accomplishments. He loved shooting his bow, tying flies for fishing, and counting the blue birds in the Crowsnest Pass. He always had an amazing story to tell about his many adventures. He was still climbing mountains until cancer slowed him down over the past two years. He continued to fish often in Mission with his good friend Len and loved going to see the fellas for coffee most days.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. with Reverend Glenda Wert officiating.

Please honour our dad’s passion for the outdoors by wearing your favourite fishing, hunting or camo attire on Thursday.

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

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