Pregitzer, Verna Mae was called home to her Lord and Saviour September 17, 2005 at Vulcan Community Health Centre at the age of 87 years.
Verna was born on March 18, 1918 in Didsbury, Alberta to Duncan and Mary Milne (nee Owens). She was the fifth of seven children (four brothers and three sisters). Verna’s family lived on a farm about twenty miles east of Olds. She attended Stuart Elementary School and took some high school courses by correspondence. Verna enjoyed helping the younger students with their lessons but family circumstances prevented her from pursuing a higher education.
In 1939 at the age of 21 Verna married Fred Pregitzer in Red Deer, Alberta. They lived in the Central Alberta region where their four children, Deanna, Leslie, Russel and Janette were born. In 1955 they moved to Pickle Lake in Northern Ontario to work with the Northern Canada Evangelical Mission. Around 1957 the family moved to Thessalon, Ontario where for a time Verna ran a restaurant next to her husband Fred’s Esso service station. In 1965 Verna and Fred moved to Cochrane, Ontario. In 1975 Verna and Fred moved back to the province they loved, where they settled on an acreage four miles west of Nanton. In 1999 they moved into Silver Willow Lodge where they happily made their home until this past July when Verna’s failing health took her to the High River Hospital and then Vulcan Extendicare.
Throughout her life Verna’s quiet and caring presence was cherished by her friends, church family and, most of all, her family. Verna will be lovingly remembered for her great love of reading, her wonderful gift of hospitality towards friends and strangers alike, her enjoyment of friendships made over the years, her love of little children, her quiet but enduring faith in her Lord and, most of all, her unending love for her dear husband Fred and their children and families. God Bless you Verna.
Verna was the beloved wife for 65 years of Fred of Vulcan and Nanton, loving mother of two daughters Deanna Cook of St. Catherine’s, Ontario and Janette (Don) McInnis of London, Ontario, nine grandchildren Susan (Richard) Young, Charlene (Dave) Mackie, Jennifer McCormick, Bonnie McInnis, Andrew McInnis, David (Sharon) Pregitzer, Don Pregitzer, Marilee Pregitzer and Waylon Collison, six great grandchildren, a great great grandson, a brother Ron (Chris) Milne of Didsbury, two sisters-in-law Elsie Milne of Edmonton and Anne Milne of Olds, numerous nieces and nephews.
Verna was predeceased by two sons Leslie in 2002 and Russel in 1991, two sisters and their husbands Hazel (Harry) Coates and Helen (Bill) Stewart, three brothers Roy (Hazel) Milne, Albert Milne and Owen Milne and her parents Duncan and Mary Milne.
Funeral service Wednesday September 21, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Nanton Baptist Church with Pastor Steve Pike officiating. A time for visitation is set for 1:00 p.m. at the church.
Casket Bearers Darrel Milne, Jim Milne, Ron Dyck, Bob Poffenroth, Don McInnis and Andrew McInnis.
Interment Nanton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Verna’s memory can be made to either Gideon International, 2739 – 49 Street SW, Calgary, T3E 3X9, Vulcan Palliative Care, Box 299, Vulcan T0L 2B0 or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.