ELMA KOENIG, beloved wife of the late Emanuel Koenig, passed away peacefully at St. Michael’s Palliative Care, on Sunday, December 30, 2018 at the age of 100 years.

She was born in Irvine, Alberta on May 18, 1918, the youngest child of Daniel and Anna Wirsch.   She married Emanuel (Manny) Koenig in 1941 and together they raised four children, Maxine (Donald) Sureman, Carol Koenig (Dennis Richter), Danielle (Larry) Smith and Denton (Kathy) Koenig. Initially living in Medicine Hat, Manny and Elma moved several times before coming to Coaldale, Alberta in 1961 and one final move took them to Lethbridge in 1988.

Elma loved nature.  She particularly enjoyed drives to Cypress Hills, Waterton Park or the Crowsnest Pass where she would delight in the wildflowers, birds and animals that she might see.  Her artistic skills and love of wildlife was evident in the beautiful ceramic pieces she created while a member of the LSCO.  Manny and Elma had a beautiful garden, growing both vegetables and flowers in abundance. 

Elma was a wonderful cook and her house was always open to anyone who wanted to stop in.  Mom always wanted to feed you, be it a meal or some of her baked treats, and a visit was never complete without a cup of tea (“with just a bit of sugar to make the flavor come out”) or coffee with evaporated milk.  Elma loved reading, especially anything to do with history, nature and her bible.

In addition to her four children, Elma is survived by three grandchildren – Kevin Sureman (Carla Pickering), Dan (Diana) Koenig, and Matthew (Nicole) Koenig as well as two great-grandchildren – Evan (Kaleisha) Sureman and Austin Sureman.  She was predeceased by her husband, Manny, and her two sisters, Annie (John) Jans and Dorothy (Henry) Jans.

We would like to thank the staff of St. Michael’s Health Centre Long Term Complex Care for the wonderful and loving care provided to mom.

A Funeral Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. with Major Donna Bladen officiating.

In lieu of flowers and for those who wish, memorial donations may be made in mom’s name to the Salvation Army, 1302 – 4 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 0R4 or the St. Michael’s Health Centre – Palliative Care Unit, 1400 – 9 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4V5.

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2019-01-02
• Location : Lethbridge, Alberta