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Katherine Schnell


Katherine Schnell passed into her longed for and well deserved rest on May 30, 2013 in Lacombe, Alberta at the age of 100 years. Katherine was the middle child of three, born June 12, 1912 to George and Elizabeth Helzer in the small German village of Norka, Russia. Her family immigrated to Canada in 1925 to settle in the Stony Plain area, later moving to a farm near Castor, Alberta where she met and married Emmanuel Schnell in 1933. They moved to the Ponoka district in 1940, settling on the family farm in 1942 where she lived for almost 70 years prior to moving into the Lacombe Seniors Lodge. Katherine never lost her passion and love for life on the farm and fondly recollected stories of shared hard work and fun times with family and friends. Katherine was predeceased by her husband Emmanuel, daughter Leah (Bill) Rosenkranz and daughter-in-law Hazel (Norman) Schnell, and by her brother John Helzer and sister Christine Loose. Katherine is survived by 2 daughters, Virginia (Dave) Poffenroth of Blackie Alberta, Dianne (Dave) Hallin of Isanti Minnesota, and 3 sons, Norman Schnell of Ponoka, David (Mary) Schnell of Sherwood Park, and Wayne (Brenda) Schnell of Calgary and her son-in-law Bill Rosenkranz of Ponoka, by 19 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at the Lacombe Evangelical Free Church, in Lacombe Alberta on Thursday June 6, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. Memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International In Canada, P.O. Box 3619, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7A2. Friends and relatives may visit online www.womboldfuneralhomes.com to sign the memory book and extend condolences to the family.


Funeral Arrangements Entrusted to Ponoka Funeral Home


~ A Wombold Family Funeral Home ~