WEDNESDAY, June 29, 2022

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on June 29, 2022.

GEORGE ANTAL

1932 – 2022

George Antal of Cardston, beloved husband of Justine Antal, passed away suddenly, after a lengthy illness at Good Samaritan Lee Crest in Cardston, on Monday, June 20, 2022, at the age of 89 years.

George Antal was born in Raymond, Alberta on October 9, 1932. George and his six siblings and his parents, who were immigrants from Hungary, worked hard farming the land. One of his favorite stories was to tell about the day his Dad traded nine horses for their first tractor, a W30 International, back in 1940. The Antal’s main income came from farming sugar beets, but George always wanted to ranch. He loved cattle and in 1962 he was able to move out to Whisky Gap (south of Cardston) where he raised cattle and hogs. When George moved, he was still a bachelor, but in 1966 he met a beautiful girl from Saskatchewan. Soon after George met Justine, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. George loved His Lord and he wanted everyone to know him too. The following year, George married Justine Hildebrandt on June 24, 1967. Together they had two boys, Danny and Dale. George was proud that his sons are “jack of all trades.” He never did things the ‘easy way,’ but he kept on working hard at whatever he set his mind too.

He will always be remembered by his loving smile

Besides his loving wife Justine Antal, George is survived by 2 sons, Daniel (Laura) and Dale (Brenda); grandchildren Tenise Ravenal, Kayla (Lyle), Krista (Phil) and Jackson; sister Esther Paoletti; 2 brothers Dean Antal and Don (Miranne) Antal; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

George is predeceased by his parents George and Elizabeth Antal, also his step mother Sarah Antal; sisters Helen (John) Laturnus, Liz (Alex) Sheremeta, Rose (Wendell) Keeler; also his brother in law Benito Paoletti.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at ST. ANDREWS UNITED CHURCH, 389 2 Ave West, Cardston, AB, with Pastor Matthew Deneault.

OLEKSY

JENNIE OLEKSY (née Filuk), of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late William “Bill” Oleksy, passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at the age of 91 years.

Jennie was born in Minitonas, Manitoba on February 11, 1931. Shortly after, her family moved to a farm in Swan River, Manitoba. She grew up with 14 siblings – nine brothers and five sisters (one sister was her twin), with many wonderful memories of life with them on the farm. She went to a country school (Lancaster) for her elementary school education from Grades one to nine. She attended Swan River High School for Grades 10 to 12. Upon graduation at the age of 17, she taught in a one-room country school.

In 1949-50, she attended Central Normal School in Winnipeg, then taught in various country and town schools in the Swan Valley Region.

She met her husband, Bill Oleksy, while walking on her way to Central Normal School – he was a school teacher as well. They married in 1954. While living in Swan River (first in town and then on a farm), they had three children, Brent, Brenda and Barton.

In 1967, she and Bill moved their family to Lethbridge. The house they bought had a kindergarten in the basement, and so Jennie’s career as the best kindergarten teacher in Lethbridge began – her first year included Barton!

Teaching full-time and raising three children wasn’t enough – Jennie decided to earn her Bachelor of Education Degree and Early Childhood Diploma at the University of Lethbridge – studying nights and weekends. Upon receiving her degree, she moved her kindergarten to Park Meadows Elementary School, and taught until her retirement in 1993. She was well loved by all her students. Even after her stroke in 2010, she could recognize and name grown adults from the five-year-olds she taught, as well as their parents and siblings.

Jennie and Bill traveled extensively, including Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and a driving trip to Canada’s East Coast, as well as many trips to BC to visit family.

She enjoyed playing and watching golf – Rory McIlroy was her current favorite. In football, she cheered for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and, most recently in hockey, Connor McDavid.

Puzzles were a favourite pastime, and she enjoyed gardening and getting her kids to pull weeds.

Jennie is survived by her children and their families: son Brent (Jamie) Oleksy, Rick (Freya), Jody (Craig), Tesla, Nolan and Calder; daughter Brenda (Bob) O’Reilly, Chase; and son Barton Oleksy (Criselda Mierau), Katya Mierau, as well as her brothers, Tim, Wally (Priscilla) and Harvey (Alice), her sisters Ruth (Bill), Anne and Olga (her twin), and many, many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Jennie’s Life will be held at FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 1614 – 5 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, July 2, 2022, commencing at 11:00 A.M with Dr. Bruce Martin officiating. All are welcome. For those unable to join in person, the service will be livestreamed and may be accessed via Jennie’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

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

Bradly Stephen VanderHeide

1976 – 2022

Bradly Stephen VanderHeide of Lethbridge passed away on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at the age of 46 from complications related to a rare and highly aggressive form of Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH , 1100 40 Ave North, Lethbridge, Alberta.

A private family Graveside Service will be held prior.

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

Wilfred “Wilf” Laverne Weitz

1927 – 2022

Wilfred passed away suddenly in Lethbridge on June 25, 2022, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 94 years. He was born on August 15, 1927 in his parent’s house in Bridgeland, Calgary, Alberta.

He was raised and educated in Calgary attending Langevin and Bridgeland Public Schools and completed his education at Western Canada High School. Wilf met his lifetime sweetheart Jean in 1948 and they were married in 1950. They moved from Calgary to Lethbridge in 1960 and they raised seven children. He worked for most of his professional life with McGavin’s Bakery as a route salesman in Lethbridge. Wilf loved fishing and camping. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and later Christ Trinity Lutheran Church.

He was predeceased by Jean in 1999 and his grandson, Brad Weitz in 2016.

He is survived by one sister-in-law, Eleanor (Tom) Joynt; children Dale (Bernie) Weitz, Wayne (Niane) Weitz, Lorna (Ron) Francoeur, Karen (Robert) Schenk, Brenda Weitz (Al Rothery), Bonnie Weitz (Richard Bates) and Ian (Beth) Weitz. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.

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

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