Obituary of John Stellmacher

Stellmacher, John (January 11, 1932 - August 22, 2014) It is with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our dear husband and father John Stellmacher. John passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on August 22, 2014 in Lloydminster Saskatchewan with his dear wife and sons at his side. John will be sadly missed and forever lovingly remembered by his wife Ruth, sons Daryl and Neil as well as numerous relatives and friends. A memorial service took place at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 29 at Living Faith Pentecostal Tabernacle in Lloydminster, Alberta. Memorial donations may be made to either the Cross Cancer Institute Edmonton Alberta or the Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation. EULOGY OF JOHN V. STELLMACHER John was born January 11, 1932 at Camrose Alberta, he passed Away August 22, 2014 in the Lloydminster Hospital at the age of 82. John was predeceased by his father William and mother Rita, one sister Hattie and one brother Elmer. John is survived by: his long time Boss (wife Ruth of 55 years); sons Daryl and Neil both of Lloydminster; two brothers - Max Stellmacher of Pitt Meadows BC and Roger Kopf of Port Coquitlam BC; one sister, Anne Rauser of Kelowna BC; plus numerous nieces and nephews on both Dad's and Mom's side of the family. One of those nephews is a pallbearer today. Thanks Marshall. One of Dad's brother's in law is also a pallbearer today. Thanks Bert. Dad grew up on a farm near New Sarepta Alberta. He excelled in school always finishing his assignments before any other classmates. We never quite believed Dad's stories of riding a horse to a one room school house up hill both on the way to school and up hill once again on the way home. Dad always loved following the current news and any sporting events. After finishing High School Dad started working for an oil company around home in the New Sarepta area. During this time Dad met the love of his life Ruth McAlister at Central Pentecostal Tabernacle in Edmonton Alberta. They eventually got married on November 14, 1958. They initially lived in Drumheller where their first son Daryl was born in 1961 and Dad continued his employment in the oil industry. Several years later Dad saw an advertisement in the Edmonton Journal for an operator job at the Husky Oil pipeline department in Lloydminster. Dad applied for the job never thinking he would even get an interview. Dad got an interview and the job. Dad started with Husky in November of 1963 when no one used a hard hat let alone cared about safety or the environment. Much different these days. In 1964 their second son ME was born. Dad loved his new job and stayed with Husky in various positions for the rest of his working days. By the time Dad retired in April of 1991, he was the Husky Oil pipeline department Superintendent. At Husky, Dad met a wide variety of characters and long time friends, one of whom is a pallbearer today. Thanks Gerald. Outside of work, Dad was a hockey coach. He coached both of his sons teams for many years. Imagine being the head coach of two different teams at once. I bet not even Don Cherry did that. Many times Dad would go straight from work to coach a 5:00 PM hockey game. Or if Dad had worked the midnight shift he would go straight to an 8:00 AM hockey game. Dad really never cared how many games the teams he coached actually won. Dad just wanted to make sure all the players on the team got the same amount of ice time regardless of the players ability or the score in the game. Strange how this used to frustrate some of the parents but the kids loved it and we ended up winning more games than we lost because of it - even winning games against teams we really had no right to think about defeating. Years later young adults would meet Dad and say hi coach. Many times Dad would have to ask for their name then the memories would come flooding back and long conversations of good times at the rink were sure to follow. After Dad retired he enjoyed researching, buying, and selling stocks both for his own personal accounts and then as a member of the Lloydminster Investment Club. Dad really became quite the internet guru investigating every stock before he ever decided to purchase or sell. Dad would even hold up our supper talking stocks with his brother in law Lorne or nephew Marshall. Dad especially enjoyed the investment club meetings and their friendly banter back and forth over a stock purchase or sale decisions. A couple members of that club are also pallbearers today. Thanks Jim and Wayde. Dad always enjoyed conversations with his neighbors. Those conversations could take place over the fence, across the back alley, or just standing on a shared driveway. One of those neighbors is a pallbearer today. Thanks Gary. Dad loved relaxing at the lake if you could call knee boarding and water-skiing until he was 78 years old relaxing. I think Daryl and I are still trying to get the water out of our ears from the times we dared to go double knee boarding with Dad who took the opportunity to spray water all over us. Dad had a real love for Southern Gospel music. A one year adventure to Southern Gospel music's largest annual event the National Quartet convention in Louisville Kentucky in 1998 for Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary turned into an annual trip for the next 14 consecutive years. When Dad heard a smaller version of the same event was starting in Red Deer, Alberta in 1999 he got tickets and we also went to that event in Red Deer every year including July of this year which would end up being the last Southern Gospel event Dad attended even though he bought tickets for 2015 and was looking forward to going again. We will be at the event in 2015 Lord willing and I think somehow Dad will be there too. When Dad was diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) in his stomach in September of 2013 his adventure of meeting some wonderful doctors and support staff had just begun. We would like to make mention of some of those special people by name. Locally there was his family doctor Dr. Chan, as well as Dr. Kostic, Dr. Reddy, and Dr. Maharaj in the local hospital, along with all the nurses and support staff at the local hospital who took such great care of Dad in his final days. Dad also gained a great friend in his Oncologist Dr. John Walker at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. Dr. Walker took the time to make Dad feel as if he was the only patient he had. Dr. Walker always had a way to cheer Dad up even going so far as to phone Dad at home several times just to talk. Dr. Walker is an incredible man with an equally incredible group of support nurses all of whom we have nothing but the utmost respect for. In closing, we would like to thank all of you for coming today to honor my hero, my mentor, the leader of our family my Dad. I think this little song the Cathedral Quartet used to sing sums up how our family feels. You can all be thankful I am just going to read the words and not sing it. The song is called Homeland. Here are the words that are sustaining our family. You beckoned to my loved one And how my tears did flow And though I've tried I could not hide How it hurt to see him go But now I know he just left this world And moved to a much better place And someday soon you will call me too And I will see him face to face In a city called homeland Oh how sweet it's going to be Just to see you And to stand upon that shore And know we'll live there Forever more Dad, of this one thing we have no doubt We will be with you in heaven far longer Than we will be without you here on earth.