Adam passed peacefully at home in Didsbury, at the age of 95. Adam was born at Elbourne, Saskatchewan to Friedrich and Maria (Hodel) Wittal, the sixth of fourteen children.
Adam is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Linda; and their four sons, Randy (Jan) of Coaldale, AB, Brian (Kim) of Didsbury, AB, Greg (Lori) of Castlegar, BC, Shawn (Dayna) of Ponoka, AB; and their daughter, Lawana (Steph) of Killaloe, ON; as well as eleven grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Philip of Regina; two sisters, Annie Schmidt of Southey, SK and Edie Hastie of Cathedral City, CA; and sister-in-law, Penny Wittal of Regina; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by infant daughter, Kathy in 1959 as well as his parents; seven brothers; and three sisters.
Adam grew up with a large, extended family nearby where they celebrated all special occasions with aunts, uncles and cousins. The love of family gatherings is something he has passed onto his children and grandchildren. He went to Stoney Ridge School and was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in the Serath-Elbourne district of Saskatchewan.
As a boy Adam loved being outdoors with the farm animals, especially the horses. He spent time trapping, hunting and fishing. As a young man he worked hard but also found time to enjoy playing fastball, hanging at the pool hall, going to movies and dances and later became a curler and a golfer. Throughout his life, every visit with family and friends included card games.
In 1946 his family moved to the farm one mile west of Strasbourg. In October of 1958 Adam married the love of his life, Linda (Frischke). They lived and worked in Regina until the spring of 1959, when they moved to the farm at Strasbourg. Adam and Linda bought the farm from his parents and this is where they raised their five children.
Those were very busy and happy years and Adam was involved in all the sports (hockey, ball, curling) and other activities that their kids were involved with. In 1965 they bought a station wagon and with curtains and mattresses it became a “camper” and they went on many adventures; across western Canada and into the United States, including Yellowstone and southern California where Adam’s sister and her family lived.
Adam spent many hours volunteering in the community, in the Lions Club and the church, as well as helping out friends and neighbours. He also enjoyed many years working for his friend Rinehold Hubick at farm auction sales.
In 1980, after struggling financially, they sold their farm land and kept the yard as an acreage. In 1984 Adam started his second career when they bought a small hunting and fishing lodge in the Porcupine Hills on the Saskatchewan / Manitoba border at Townsend Lake. The lodge had not been used since a large forest fire had swept through the area in 1980. There was lots of hard work and building ahead of them. Moose Range Lodge became a favorite destination for all of their families and friends and they were blessed to make many new friends in the area. In 1998 they sold the lodge and retired to Strasbourg, for a short time.
In 2006, Adam decided he still wanted “something to do” so they applied for the job of managing the Rosebud Valley Campground in Didsbury, AB and at the age of 82, in March of 2007, they moved to Alberta and he started his new job.
Adam overcame many health problems and several accidents in his lifetime. He was a thirty year prostate cancer survivor and a ten year cardiac arrest survivor. During the past two years there had been many hospital stays and in October of 2019, after several weeks in the hospital and a diagnosis of “end stage COPD and heart disease” Adam was able to come home for “in-home palliative care”.
Adam was so grateful for the wonderful Home Care team that provided support for himself and Linda and very thankful to be at home when the Covid pandemic was announced, rather than in long-term care.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations in Adam’s name may be made to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, 302 – 393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 3H6, www.clwr.org.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Adam Jacob Wittal April 3rd 2020..
Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services
Death notice for the town of: Airdrie, Province: Alberta