KREW KUTS: Our record of deaths – 1964

By Bernie Krewski

One of the more inspiring experiences of our times is the possibility that deaths of our loved ones and friends will be gracefully accompanied by a perceptive and vividly written obituary acknowledging their very existence.

That now happens due to the wide-ranging work of many journalists during the last thirty years. Examples are Sandra Martin’s “Working the Dead Beat: 50 Lives That Changed Canada” (2012), and “Canada From Affair: The Daily Telegraph Book of Canadian Obituaries” (1996), edited by David Twiston Davies.

Newspaper accounts in 1964 marking the deaths of people connected to this district during their lifetime offer a distinct contrast.

LAWSON – The family history John Lawson of Cappon is recorded in Many Trails Crossed Here (MTCH) vol. 1, pp. 197-198). At age 76, at some time during the week of January 12, he died in the Nanaimo Hospital a few hours after being struck by a car. He and his wife were spending the winter months in that B.C. community.

NORDBLOM – Mrs. Isobel Nordblom, wife of George (MTCH, 178), died suddenly at her home on Saturday, Feb. 1. Sympathy is extended to the Nordblom, Love, and Doupe families.

WILSON – “Sibbald Pioneer Dies At 90” was the headline in the Edmonton Journal, Feb. 8.  

Charles Wilson (Sibbald Community History, 353-354) was a “pioneer of the Sibbald district before coming to Edmonton in 1950.” Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Mr. Wilson came to Canada in 1904. After working in Montreal and Winnipeg, he moved to Sibbald, taking up a homestead which he farmed until his retirement in 1950. His wife predeceased him in 1937.

He joined the AF&AM (a Masonic designation) before coming to Canada and was a life member of the Acadia Lodge in Oyen. Mr. Wilson is survived by his daughter, Mrs. A.S. Corneliuson of Edmonton, with whom he has been living since his retirement, two grandchildren and two sisters. Services and burial occurred at Sibbald. No date of death was provided.

SHAW – Mrs. Shaw, Dean McKelvie’s grandmother, an early resident of Benton, died at Whiterock, B.C ., as reported in the Hanna Herald on March 7. No date of death was indicated. Margaret and Ben Shaw’s brief history is recorded in Alsask’s “Captured Memories,” p. 421.

McLEAN - Mrs. Jack McLean died in the Medicine Hat Hospital on March 26 following a brief illness, The McLeans, former residents of Oyen (MTCH, p. 146), are currently residents of Bindloss. 

RUDE – Mrs. Clara Rude, age 69, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Camrose on March 30. Her family history is in Sedalia’s “Wind, Willows & Prairie Wool,” pp. 317-318. She was born Dec. 13, 1894, in Minnesota, moved with her parents to Melfort, SK where she married John Rude on April 11, 1911, subsequently moving to Sedalia. She was predeceased by two sons, Clifford and one in infancy, and leaves five daughters and seven sons.

SVATOS – Frank Svatos, age 73 or 74 (MTCH, p. 202), died at the Calgary General Hospital on April 12 following a long illness. He was well known in the Cappon district where he farmed for many years and more recently just north of Oyen. His remains will be forwarded to Edmonton for services and interment.

GREEN - The headline in the Calgary Herald said: “Curling Vet Bob Green Dies At 71.” Mr. Green died at the Holy Cross Hospital on April 15. He arrived in Lanfine from Ontario in 1914 and farmed there and at Dinsmore, SK until 1948 when he and wife Emma moved to Calgary. He was a “ the most familiar figures around the city curling scene,” a member of the Meadowlark Club since its formation in the 1950s. He is survived by Emma, son Lee and daughter, Mrs. Lois Costigan of Calgary.

DOBROSKY – On April 23, the Hanna Herald announced the death of Phyllis Dobrosky (nee Blehm) providing no date or any further information.  

BODNARUK – This was cited as an Obituary. Samuel Bodnaruk, a resident of the Cappon district for 46 years, passed away in the Oyen Municipal Hospital, Wednesday, March 18, following a lengthy illness. Born in Ukraine 69 years ago, Mr. Bodnaruk came to Canada in 1911, working his way west, and settled in the Cappon district in 1918 where he was engaged in farming until the time of his death. Beside his wife, he is survived by three sons: Dmitro and Peter of Cappon and John of Calgary; four daughters, Mrs. Jeanette Senkiw of Sibbald, Mary of Calgary, Mrs. Madeline Taylor of Cappon, Annie in Oyen; a sister residing in Ukraine, and six grandchildren. Funeral services were at the Greek Orthodox Church, March 21, with Father Seneshen officiating. Interment followed in the Oyen cemetery under the direction of Klym’s Funeral Home. His family history is in MTCH, v. 1, p. 188.

NEVILLE - “Pioneer Woman Dies In Calgary” (Hanna Herald, June 4, p. 1). An early pioneer of the Cappon district, Ida Antonio Hoffman, age 88, died on May 24. Born at Chilton, Wisconsin, December 7, 1875, Ida married Michael Neville in Neilsville, Wisconsin, and they commenced homesteading in North Dakota in 1903, coming to the Cappon district in 1910. They retired in Oyen in November 1950. Mrs. Neville entered a Calgary nursing home in March this year. She is survived by a sister-in-law, a niece and several nephews in Wisconsin. She is predeceased by her husband in 1953 (July 16, MTCH v. 2, p. 174) and a brother and a sister. Her funeral was at Sacred Heart Church in Oyen. Pallbearers were Percy Carroll, Frank Volk, Carl Haugsett, Roy Horne, William McDonald and Clinton McMullen. The Neville family history is in MTCH, v. 1, p. 167.

PADBERG – Ida & John. Ida died on June 1 and John on August 31. There is a brief reference to Ida in the Hanna Herald on June 25: “Rush Centre Women’s Institute Pays Tribute to Deceased Member,” especially for being secretary-treasurer of the women’s institute for 48 years. Two months later a brief note referred to John’s funeral at the Catholic Church on August 31. Their family history in Esther’s “Sage Brush and Sifting Sand”, pp. 558-560, makes no reference to the dates of their deaths.

BRUNNER – The Hanna Herald published this tragic news report on July 23: “Mother of Six Killed on No. 9 Highway; Fishing Trip to Dobson Reservoir Ends in Tragedy for Family From Acadia Valley. Mrs. Alf Brunner, age 34 killed; husband in Oyen Hospital with severe injuries; 6 children escape.” This fishing trip was a daylong outing for Mrs. and Mr. Brunner, their four children and two friends. Their late model station wagon left the highway four miles east of Cereal. Mrs. Brunner, the driver, was killed instantly. Mr. Brunner is in serious condition with a fractured skull and broken ribs. None of the six children were seriously injured. Accompanying the four Brunner children were Wayne Brausse of Acadia Valley and Clifford Qually of Oyen. Several children received medical attention in Oyen. The family resided on a family farm in the Vandyne district. The accident occurred around 10:00 p.m. The cause is not known. After leaving the highway, the auto sheared off a pole and landed in the ditch at a location near the railway crossing. A short follow-up report on July 30 indicated that Clifford Qually was released from hospital after a few days and Mr. Brunner is progressing favorably.  

An addendum to this news report was a series of emails from Rick Brunner, one of the children involved in this accident, and Diana Walker in May 2019. That is a larger story worthy of greater attention at another time.

ABBOTT - Howard Davies reports the death of Thomas Morley Abbott of Keswick, Cumberland, England on Aug 18. He was age 77. Mr. Abbott came to this district in 1911, farming with his brother Sid four miles south of Oyen. They disposed of their farm in 1952 and moved back to England. Sid died Dec 31, 1963.

CARROLL – Mrs. Mary (Joe) Carroll, age 83, died in Calgary recently. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph, in 1961. She is survived by two sons, Leo of Port Alberni BC, and Percy of Cappon, four daughters Mrs. Isabell Sidle, Mrs. Rita Fuller of Calgary, Mrs. Doris Kosman, Edmonton, and Mrs. Lillian Knapik of Acadia Valley. Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart Church in Oyen, September 5. Interment followed in the Oyen Cemetery. In MTCH, v. 1, p. 165, it says that Joe Carroll died in the spring of 1960, not 1961, and Mary in 1966. Keith MacLean’s records state Joseph died on January 11, 1960, and Mary on September Sept 3, 1964. 

MALYX – The death of Mrs. Malyx of Oyen was reported in the Hanna Herald on Oct. 8 with no accompanying information.

PEERS – The death of the well-known Acadia Valley pioneer, Warren Peers, was reported in the Hanna Herald on October 15: “Early Settler of Acadia Valley , W.F. Peers Laid to Rest Oct. 10; was early homesteader, storekeeper and postmaster; came in 1910.” His life is described extensively in Acadia Valley’s “Times to Remember.”

WRIGHT – This also was cited as an Obituary. Walter Wright, 81, died in Oyen Hospital on October 31 after a long illness. He was born in Sherwood, Ontario in 1873 (incorrect – 1883), married Harriet Yake in 1905, and came to the Cappon district in 1916. They retired to Oyen in 1953. Harriet died in October (Oct. 27, Keith Maclean records) 1955. He is survived by his son Robert of Helmsdale, daughter Edna of Cappon, five grandchildren, and a brother in Toronto. Besides Harriet, he was predeceased by sons Gordon and Donald, three brothers and two sisters. Services were conducted at the United Church with Rev. Barnum. Pallbearers were Charlie Greenwood, Ronald Kulbergs, Gordon McBain, Aleck McNally, Frank Hoffman and Carl Haugsett.

There is a brief family history in MTCH, v. 1, p. 169. There, reference is made to daughter Edna’s marriage to Frank Logan in 1928 and Robert’s to Irene Stammers in 1942. No reference is made to his predeceased sons, Gordon and Donald. His date of death is listed as Oct. 30 in Keith MacLean’s records.

LYNETT - “City Parish Priest, Rev. J.C. Lynett, Dies” (Calgary Herald, Dec. 7). Father Lynett was the parish priest in Oyen from 1923 to 1938, an unusually long appointment. He had great influence of my older brother, Walter. He was also a great tennis player. Educated in Kitchener and Toronto, he was ordained in 1921. Before arriving in Oyen, he briefly served in Calgary and Drumheller. After Oyen, he spent five years in Carstairs, then St. John’s in Calgary. Coincidentally, he had visited Oyen a few weeks before his sudden death to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Oyen’s Catholic parish.