Obituary For Elsie Heikel
Elsie (Elza) Heikel, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the age of 96 years.
Elza Stefan was born May 25, 1925, to German parents, Gottfried and Lydia (nee Schultz) Stefan, in Podglemboki, Poland, and baptized in Chelm, Poland. Elsie, her parents and two brothers, Sigmunt and Otto, grandmother Julianna Schultz and Lydia’s cousin, Ferdinand Schmitke immigrated to Canada in 1929, departing on the S.S. Lituania from Danzig, Poland, on July 4th, arriving in Halifax, NS, on July 21st. They then travelled by train, passing through Edmonton on July 26th, before arriving at Wembley, AB.
Elsie attended St. John Lutheran Church and school, in Wembley where she met her husband, John Heikel. Though they were acquaintances from a very young age, it was through a later, shared love of baseball and farm life that their friendship blossomed. Elsie and John were married on March 1, 1946, at St. John’s Lutheran Church. They raised their four children: Melvin, Lorraine, Bernice and Diane; while farming first with John’s parents, Jakob and Katherine, and in later years with their son, Melvin and his wife, Sherri. They remained active in St. John’s Lutheran throughout their lives, where Elsie taught Sunday School and was a member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.
Elsie enjoyed working beside her husband John, playing an active role in the day-to-day operations of their mixed farm. She especially enjoyed tending her vegetable and flower gardens. Elsie and John shared a love for camping, fishing, curling, picking blueberries and travelling. A highlight of their travels together included a trip to the Toronto Royal Winter Fair. After John’s passing, Elsie continued to travel. Visiting Pier 21 in Halifax to view documents of her family’s entry to Canada was another favourite travel memory, as well as a trip through many European countries with her daughter, Bernice. Elsie met with many German and Swiss cousins and visited her daughter, Diane and husband Arthur and sons, Stephen and Ryan in Vienna, during Arthur’s sabbatical in Austria. At almost 80 years of age, Elsie climbed the 100+ stairs to their fifth floor flat, several times each day.
Elsie and John’s greatest joys, however, were their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The “Thomson boys” were first to arrive on the scene. They were frequent visitors to the farm, where their youthful exuberance and antics brought much joy and laughter to their grandparents’ lives. Soon, there were four additional, lively youngsters right next door; quickly followed by a ninth and tenth in Australia, then Saskatoon. Each grandchild and great-grandchild was loved and cherished and made to feel special for his or her unique qualities. Elsie and John attended every possible sports event, musical, and dance recital in which their grandchildren and great grandchildren participated.
Left to mourn Elsie’s passing are: son Melvin and Sherri and their children: Julie and Martin Nord (Magdalena and Ezra), John (Johann and Elza), Matthew and Tracey (Winifred and Elzbieta), and Amanda; daughter Lorraine and Bob Thomson and their children: Dean and Carrie (Brody, Drue, Reese, Seraya Olson); Scott (Taylor, Ethan and Alyssa); Chad Thomson; daughter Bernice Heikel; daughter Diane and Arthur Davis (Stephen Davis and Karla Hillis, Ryan Davis); sister in-law Marlene Stefan; cousin Emmy Spuhler Stefan in Switzerland; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins in Canada.
Elsie was predeceased by her husband John, in 2000; her parents Gottfried and Lydia; parents in-law Jakob and Katherina Heikel; grandmother Julianna Schultz; grandson Shane Thomson; brothers Sigmunt (Lore) and Otto; as well as sister Olga (Walter) Heikel.
Müde bin ich, geh zur Ruh,
schließe meine Augen zu.
Vater, laß die Augen dein
über meinem Bette sein.
Weary now, I go to rest,
Close my eyes in slumber blest.
Father, may Thy watchful eye
Guard the bed on which I lie.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 4, 2021, at 1:00pm, at St. John’s Lutheran Church (turn left off Hwy 43 onto Huallen Rd (Range Rd 92), 2 miles south and 1 mile east).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance is limited to family. Masks and double vaccinations are required.
Memorial Donations in memory of Elsie, may be made to the Lutheran Hour Ministries (270 Lawrence Ave., Kitchener, ON, N2M 1Y4).
Services
4
Oct
Memorial Service
St. Johns Lutheran Church
Box 339
Wembley, AB
T0H 3S0
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Elsie Heikel May 25 1925 September 30 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta