THURSDAY, January 13, 2022
By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on January 13, 2022.
BARTON
LAURA RUTH BARTON, passed away in Lethbridge, Alberta on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at the age of 94 years.
A Private Family service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hill Spring, Alberta on Monday, January 17th.
Interment will follow in the Hill Spring cemetery.
To WATCH the service Later or to send condolences please visit http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca
BURBANK
Lee J Burbank, formerly of Lethbridge, recently of Jackson, WY, passed away peacefully Monday January 10, 2022, in Murray, UT, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was the son of the late Leonard and Daphne Burbank. He is survived by his beloved wife Arla, and their children Josh, Hillary, Chase and Riley and their families. He is also survived by his sister Sandy of Coaldale and his brother Deloy of Lethbridge. Funeral services will be held in Jackson, WY, Saturday January 15, 2022 at 11:00 am Mountain time Those interested may attend the funeral virtually via Zoom using this link which will be opened just prior to the service:
CHALMERS
GORDON ALEXANDER CHALMERS of Lethbridge, AB, passed away peacefully at home on January 7th, 2022 at the age of 87 years.
Gordon was a humble, selfless and kind individual who always put the wellbeing of others above his own. On most weekends, and up until his last day, you could find Gordon visiting his family and many friends. Though Gordon’s health had been declining for the past ten years, he continued to smile and rarely ever complained.
Gordon was born on May 19, 1934 to parents Duncan and Alice Chalmers in Lethbridge, AB. He was an amazing older brother to his sister Beatrice. With the support of his parents, Gordon received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Guelph Veterinary College in 1961. His career began in Edmonton at the Provincial Veterinary Laboratory as a pathologist and animal disease investigator. He later transferred to Lethbridge to work for the Alberta Department of Agriculture where he performed similar work. He remained in this role for the majority of the next 30 years before retiring in 1991. Gordon was known among his colleagues for his dedication to his work, often going out of his way to help in any way he could.
Having a keen interest in all aspects of raising and breeding racing pigeons, Gordon was an active member of the Lethbridge District Pigeon Club and a lifetime member of the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union.
He will be deeply missed by his nephew Jerry (Sharon) Cook; nieces Carol (Nick) Toth and Jackie (Adam) Keen; brother-in-law Donald Cook, great nieces and nephews Ashleigh (Dave) Young, Jeremy Toth, Chrystal (Alex) Forbes, Brittany (Will) Toth, and Ainsleigh (Sid) Toth, Steven Medaris, Nicole Medaris; and 9 great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Duncan and Alice Chalmers, and sister, Beatrice Cook.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, an invite-only memorial service will be held on Monday, January 17 at 11 am. A livestream of the service will be available via his obituary on the Cornerstone Funeral Home website.
In honor of Gordon, please consider visiting a family member, taking a friend for coffee, or going bird watching. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
GRAY
DOUGLAS ALAN GRAY passed away on Sunday, January 9th, 2022, at the age of 40.
Funeral arrangements will be announced once completed.
To send a condolence, please visit
http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
Henry (Hank) Grunsky
1932 – 2021
December 5, 1932 – January 3, 2022
Mr. Henry (Hank) Grunsky of Lethbridge passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Monday, January 3, 2022 at the age of 89 years.
Hank is survived by his daughters, Sherry Vickers (Stan) & Tracey Grunsky (Jim); grandchildren, Micheal, Ayla & Alex and sister, Marge, along with other family members and friends.
He was pre-deceased by his sons, Robin & Rodney.
Hank will be remembered privately by his family and friends.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
Kevin Laffin
1984 – 2022
Mr. Kevin Laffin of Lethbridge passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022, at the age of 37 years.
Kevin will be privately remembered by his family and friends.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
Henry George Meyer
February 26, 1929 – December 31, 2021
George Meyer of Calgary, AB, beloved husband of the late Patricia (Pat) Meyer, passed away on December 31, 2021 at the age of 92 years.
George was born in Medicine Hat on February 26, 1929 to Henry and Virginia (Jean) Meyer. George started school in Bullshead, a CPR whistle-stop west of Medicine Hat, where they lived in the Station House, and George, sister Doreen, and cousin Dwayne attended the one-room State School. The family moved to Nanton in 1939, where George played hockey, discovered his singing prowess, learned trumpet, received high school matriculation, took an apprenticeship as a printer’s devil at the Nanton News, and completed the National Institute of Newspapers correspondence course. He lost his mother to cancer in 1944. While a linotype operator for the Lethbridge Herald, he continued to visit Nanton, and met the beautiful Patsy Johnson. George married Pat in 1955, in Nanton.
George’s life as an editor and publisher began when he and Dick Hawk bought the Nanton News in 1957. In 1959, George bought an interest in the Camrose Canadian, where he was reporter-editor, as well as editor-manager of the Tofield Mercury, and for a short time the Wetaskiwin Times. He took over as the publisher-editor of the Taber Times in 1966. George and his partner Walter Koyanagi bought the first offset web press to operate south of Calgary, and began printing their own and others’ community newspapers. The Times won numerous awards for photography and news writing under George’s time as editor, and subsequently under protégé Coleen Campbell. George and Pat moved to High River in 1988, to be nearer to family, and George acquired an interest in the High River Times and the Nanton News (subsequently bought by Frank and Emily McTighe), and, with then son-in-law Gordon Scott, the Claresholm Local Press. George was devastated by Gord’s untimely death, and fortunately found in Roxanne Thompson the perfect next publisher.
George was an active member of the Alberta Weekly and the Canadian Community Newspaper Associations (AWNA, CCNA). He held various roles on their boards, and received several awards and honours including the CCNA Gold Quill Award, for 50 years of service to the industry. In 2004, George’s book “A Prairie Publisher” was released. George is remembered by those in the community newspaper business for being ever gregarious, hard-working, and a generous spirit, offering mentorship and support to many.
George supported every community that he lived in, with his talents in music and business, and his time. George served in numerous community positions including chambers of commerce, service clubs, church and hospital boards, and participated in quartets, bands, and choirs. George put his active newspaper role on hold to become the mayor of Taber in 1980, when George and Deputy Mayor Ken Kurio organized the first exchange with Taber’s sister city, Notogawa, Japan. He ran and was elected mayor again in 1986. George was a sports fan, with hockey and baseball at the top of the list — he rarely missed a Taber Golden Suns hockey game. George’s unflagging energy and dedication to the communities in which he lived contributed to him receiving the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal in 1993.
George was devoted to Pat and her family through their 66 years of marriage. He supported Pat’s creative talents and lifelong learning, for example, helping build a pottery studio and outdoor kiln in High River, and keeping Pat company when she attended week-long summer classes at Red Deer College. George had always wanted to attend university, and similar to Pat, fulfilled that ambition in the late 70s at the U of L, taking Political Science, English and Astronomy.
George was kind and welcoming to all he met. They made many lifelong friends in Nanton, Camrose, Taber, High River, Waterton Park, Mission (TX) and Casa Grande (AZ). George enjoyed golf and music wherever they lived. Pat and George’s three daughters grew up in Camrose and Taber, and remember with extra-special fondness falling asleep to George’s barbershop quartet rehearsals. Helping out at the Taber Times gave them an introduction to responsibility as well as a love of paper products. The family’s most fun memories revolve around spending time with family and friends at the cabin in Waterton Park. George enjoyed many evenings listening to the live chamber music at the Prince of Wales hotel. Grandson Evan recalls George always being there for him — playing chess, meeting him “halfway” in Red Deer for Rebels’ hockey games, building model trains, driving the golf cart, and taking train trips. Driving George’s car across Alberta while sitting on a pillow, is a particularly treasured memory.
George is survived by three daughters, Holly of Edmonton, Janet (Rob) of Las Vegas, Virginia (Shawna) of Calgary; one grandson Evan (Kirstyn) of Edmonton; great-grandchildren Elliot and Jenny, and special grand-friends Miranda, Kyla, Brett and Kelly. George was predeceased by his wife Patricia Meyer, his sister and her husband Doreen and Lloyd Nelson, and brothers-in-law Herb (Cathie) Johnson and George (Roberta) Robinson.
A Private Celebration of George’s Life will be held on January 28th at 10:30 a.m. Family and friends are invited to join the service via the livestreaming available on George’s Tribute Page at http://www.lylereeves.com . Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on George’s obituary at http://www.lylereeves.com or directed to Holly, Janet or Virginia. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimers Society or the charity of your choice.
Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.
ROZIERE
LOUISE JEANNE ROZIERE passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital, on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at the age of 74 years.
As per Louise’s wishes, no service will be held. Cremation entrusted to Cornerstone.
To send a condolence, please visit
http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
Johanna Sosick
1929 – 2022
On Monday, January 10, 2022, Johanna Sosick passed away peacefully at the age of 92 at the St. Michael’s Health Centre, with her daughter, Jackie, by her side.
Johanna was born October 24, 1929, in Leiden, Netherlands to parents Johannes and Anna Gieske. Johanna is predeceased by her parents; loving husband, Louie; her sisters Adriana, Sr Maria and Francisca and brothers Anthonius (Tony), Herman and Edward; sisters-in-law, Elisabeth, Rietje, Maria, Lenie, Loretta & Agnes and brothers-in-law Antonius, William and Peter. She is survived by her children, Jackie (Tony), Christine, and Jim (Susan), her brothers Piet and Aloysius, brother-in-law Morris (Joanne), and sister-in-law Joann and many nieces and nephews.
Johanna was a devoted mother who treasured beyond measure her husband, children and grandchildren (Peter, Sarah, Angela and August). After her sister-in-law, Elisabeth’s, passing in 1983, she helped her brother Tony lovingly care for her nieces and nephews (Tony, John, Betty, Allan and Tracey).
In 1958, Johanna, along with her brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Elisabeth Gieske, immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands aboard the ship “The Grote Bear”. As a new immigrant she started working on a sugar beet farm in Picture Butte where she met the love of her life, Louie and they were married in 1961. Johanna also worked for a brief time as a care aid on the pediatric ward at St. Michael’s Hospital in Lethbridge in the 1960’s.
Johanna volunteered countless hours for the Special Olympics, accompanying many athletes at competing events. She enjoyed bowling, sewing, golfing, camping and, most of all, spending time with family and friends. She spent time each morning praying in her greenhouse for all those in her life. She will be dearly missed by all of us.
A sincere thank you to all the staff at St Michael’s Health Centre for the wonderful care and love you have shown to Johanna. Special thanks to Vanessa Rogers (Homecare Nurse) and Dr. Charlotte Haig.
A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 pm, on Monday, January 17, 2022, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at ST. BASIL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 13 St N, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Father Derek Remus celebrant. An Interment to follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
Due to current COVID restrictions both the Prayers and Mass Service are by invitation only and we respectfully ask others to join the live stream by going to https://www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/Johanna-Sosick.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Special Olympics (#1 -2810 5 Ave N. Lethbridge, T1H-0P1).
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
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