Obituary of John Wetzstein

B I O G R A P H Y WETZSTEIN: John Theodore Wetzstein passed away in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at the age of 80 years. John is survived by: his loving wife Helen; three children: Marlene and her husband Cliff Lovelace of Loon Lake, SK; Mel Wetzstein and his wife Jennine of Lloydminster; Myron Wetzstein and his wife Sherry also of Lloydminster; five grandchildren: Kit Lovelace and his wife Kari, Jenny, Candice, Michael and Adam Wetzstein and one great granddaughter Kaylin; one brother Frank Wetzstein of Lloydminster; two sisters: Carolyn Johnson of Wetaskawin, and Marie Wandler of Provost as well as numerous other relatives. John was predeceased by his brothers Tony and Martin, and sister Vera. A prayer service for John was conducted from St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Monday, March 5, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. The funeral service for John was conducted from St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 10:30 A.M. with Father Lawrence Agorchukwu officiating. A eulogy was given by Kit Lovelace. Readings were by Kit Lovelace, Cliff Lovelace & Adam Wetzstein. Special music was sung by Marlene Risling and Carmelita Swan accompanied on the organ by Donna Weston. Active pallbearers were: Kit Lovelace, Michael Wetzstein, Adam Wetzstein, Candice Neil, Jenny Lobban and Raymond Sarrazin. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy John Theodore Wetzstein was born to Elizabeth and Martin Wetzstein on February 8, 1927 in Bodo Alberta. John was the youngest of seven children with three brothers and three sisters. John knew Helen Schlosser his whole life, as a matter of fact they went to school together as young children. They were friends all their life and eventually became more than friends. In fact, John gave Helen a ring when she was 18 so that no other young man could come courting. To prepare for the future John moved to Wetaskawin to work on a farm. He developed a lot of skills there that he could use to start his own homestead. On June 1, 1950 John married Helen Schlosser in Bodo, Alberta. In the same year they purchased farm land in Artland, Saskatchewan where they started their family. In 1952 their daughter Marlene was born, followed by their sons Mel in 1958, and Myron in 1962. On their farm they raised chickens, cows, pigs, and horses. John always dreamed of being a horse rancher. He loved horses, especially a black mare named Pearl which Johnny loved to ride. However to provide for his family he did many things. He was a skilled butcher and sausage maker and their farm produced an abundance of products including a bountiful garden with his favorite potato crop. During this time John really enjoyed square dancing, the community Wist Drives and especially the Artland Cattle Drives. John and Helen’s door was always open to welcome friends and neighbors. It seemed like there was almost never a day without company. In fall the hunters were welcomed on his land to the point where he became sick of wild meat. As time went on John and Helen chose to sell the farm because John could no longer do the strenuous work his farm demanded of him. They moved to Lloydminster and purchased their home on 40th street where they spent many years together raising their children. In this time John ventured into other fields of employment which included a baker, a caretaker at the Husky refinery and AGT. One of his favorite pastimes was caring for their three grandsons, Kit, Michael, and Adam before and during grade school. When John moved to Dr. Cooke and Helen to Hearthstone, their grandson Michael purchased their home and is currently living there. Aside from John’s hardworking ethic he always had a light hearted nature. When John was a little boy he was a prankster and didn't take school very seriously. As a matter of fact he said he went right through school, in the front and out the back. One of the stunts that he pulled in school that led him to get the strap was throwing pepper on a hot wood stove, which made a great deal of smoke and caused a lot of coughing and sneezing in the little school house. He would also do things like dipping sister Betty's hair in his ink well if she wouldn't give him answers in school. John always knew the value of a penny. He knew that if you cut a gopher's tail in half it was worth two pennies instead of one. Being raised in the hungry thirties, John witnessed the hardships of early homesteading. With that said, at an early age John left school to work on the family farm. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great friend who touched the lives of many people. He was a very proud, spiritual man and he loved attending church. John loved a lot of things, one of them being good food - except cottage cheese. One of his favorites was Helen's Cream Gravy Chicken. John always liked his family and friends near to him, he loved playing cards with friends and especially loved checkers and marbles with his grandchildren. He attended many functions in the community. Above all John had a great love for his wife Helen, his children and grandchildren. Finally, we want to share with you John's favorite song. It is "I Saw the Light," by Hank Williams Sr. So, if we could all listen one more time with John. Card of Thanks Our family would like to thank all the doctors, Dr. Cooke nursing staff, the Ladies of the CWL for the lunch, and the wonderful staff at McCaw Funeral Service. A special thank you to all family and friends for the many cards, flowers, donations, food, phone calls, visitors, and words of support during this time. Sincerely, Helen Wetzstein Marlene & Family Mel & Family Myron & Family Donations in loving memory of John may be made to the Parkinson's Society or to a Charity of the Donor's Choice.