Obituary of Alfred Schwenk

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our loving husband, father & grandfather. Alfred was raised in Wetaskiwin AB. He loved and participated in sports at a very early age. Besides playing hockey he coached as a young man himself. He began his curling career also in Wetaskiwin. Alfred moved to Camrose in 1960 and met his loving wife Solveig. Alfred's happiness was always centered on his family, friends, (too many to mention) and his participation in all sports in Camrose. Besides playing fastball, he coached ladies fastball up to the Senior A level. He was also very successful in his curling endeavours. His competiveness and love of curling was admired by all. His Children remember long hours spent at the ball diamonds and curling rinks watching their Dad in action. They were always so proud of their Dad. His infectious laugh and zest for life will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him, especially his grandchildren who loved their papa immensely. Dad's love for animals was contagious. His two puppy friends Adlie, and Theodore Thor as well as kitten Ferlisse will miss their wonderful friend. Alfred leaves to mourn his loving wife, Solveig (Lea) Gotaas; daughters, Brenda (David) of Wainwright, Leanne (James) of Edmonton; son, Todd of Camrose; grandchildren, Alisha(Dave) of Calgary, Courtney(Nicholas) of Wainwright, Brandon (Shayleen) of Edmonton; sisters, Rose (Arvin), Katherine both of Wetaskiwin; as well as numerous brother and sisters in law, nieces and nephews. Alfred was predeceased by his parents, Jacob & Maria; brother Jack; sisters, Margaret and Mary; parents in law, Paul & Hilda Gotaas. As per Dad's request, cremation has been taken place and no formal service will be held. A private celebration of Dad's life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers per Dad's wishes, contributions may be made to the SPCA, Alberta Heart, Lung, and Stroke Association or a charity of ones choice. A Letter from Alisha, I just started writing whatever came to mind & wanted to share it with you all...not really sure if it all makes sense, but I think we can all agree that Papa was the most incredible husband, dad, papa, & friend. I hope we can find peace soon & stay together strong as a family...just as Papa would want us too.... Papa was sent here from Romania. He overcame his odds (german speaking being sent to an english speaking school) and found his soul mate (Gran). He grew into his life and found the secret ...that you need to do the things you enjoy ..so he did what made him happy (sports, laughing, being silly & being such a genuine, humble, respectful man)...and that included being present and active in our life in any capacity he could....he learned to be kind to animals, not only his but others and would go out of his way to do what he could to nourish that. He learned that giving to others was fulfilling and so he did that without ever wanting anything in return. He found that humour enriched his life so he joked about all sorts of things and made cute names for everyone he knew. With all that he did, learned, taught others - that, in turn, enriched and touched the people around him. I guess it's his time to go. The fact of the matter is, there is a lot of heartache in this world...famine, human cruelty, prejudice, complacency, distortion in how people really should be, basic kindnesses to each other, greed... & with a soul like Papa's, it may very well be that he has fulfilled what he was meant to do in our family circle and the people around him. Now it's time for his soul to go back and be used to touch others, teach others, love others, and show them how to love, laugh, enjoy, & over come odds. Jewels like Papa don't just stop....he has to leave us, but not because he wants to, only because he has to go and help others now........but he will always watch over us..... I know it's hard to find the positives right now; however, I hope that one day...with time...we're able to feel genuine happiness knowing that Papa made peace with God on Christmas - Jesus' birthday. I think this is something very special that we should hold very dear in our hearts. All my love, Alisha A letter from a friend, Lea, Brenda, Leanne, Todd Dearest of Friends - in times like this, It is with such a sad and heavy heart that I write this letter to you after receiving the news of the passing of a very good man, my friend Alf. I hope that some how I am able to lighten the load just a little, if you would allow me that. It is my belief that our good Lord and Saviour has taken Alf home and that he is now very safe in the arms of Jesus, probably planning another big bonspiel, or organising another ball tournament, or figuring out just how in the world is he going to make things just a little easier for his family. Oh how I know how much he loved his family. I know that it has been a very long time since any of you youngsters have seen me and a lot of water has run under the bridge - - but I know about you - - because your Dad talked about you every time we talked. I am so glad that Alf and I had the opportunity to have some very good conversations over the past while. My only wish is that I could have made it up there for a visit to talk more about old times, but more importantly so that my son J W and my good wife Kathy would have gotten to know him, even for just a few moments. One of the things he did do, while talking about such things, was to indicate that he would have to tell my son a great many stories so that J W would know just how crazy his Dad really was - - oh those would have been such good moments. This next part is going to be difficult to try to explain - - I don't think I can ever express in any words or deeds just how much Alf meant to me in so many ways and so many levels. It was so much more than the curling, or the ball, or the coaching skills or the friendship that grew so strong over the years. In spite of so many road blocks along the way, I have had a very successful and rewarding life. Once I got away from that very tough situation of the clan and all that that entailed, doors opened for me that I never dreamed possible - - - first the unexpected successes with Alberta Wheat Pool, especially in Wetaskiwin where we broke records and established a work ethic and environment that was second to none on the territory; and then the amazing experience of being on the Public Relations Department for two years. After resigning and moving out to Rocky Mountain House area, I eventually was able to establish a cow calf operation there where we had about 120 cows most of the time and at the same time becoming a Crop Protection Consultant with Rhone Poulenc of Canada - - life was so good. Here is where the crux of all of this comes from - - I give all the credit for this first to the Good Lord above, then my Sunday schoolteacher, my school teacher, my grandparents and to Mr. Alf Schwenk. He taught me so much. Probably the most important was, by his understanding and accepting of me and whatever talents I possessed as a curler and ball player, the confidence I gained in myself, and the self discipline that went along with it. I thank God every day for putting such good people into my world. I just don't think I was ever able to give enough back to Alf for all that he gave to me. Now lets talk about some other things - - like curling and ball. What this gifted man of yours was able to accomplish in the world of curling for the time frame of those curling years was - - simply phenomenal. More bonspiel wins, more club game wins, more zone wins in both men's and mixed, more spectators and sport fans all generating more interest in the fabulous game of curling all through the late 50's, the 60's and on in to the seventies. All the big name curlers out of Edmonton and central Alberta knew who the Alf Schwenk team was. Whether it was Brian Brown or Bobby Trautman or Murry Whitecotten or Vern Hafso or the great team that included myself and Lee Johns and Hugh Perkins - - what a way to spend some time and form strong friendships. Oh how I remember how the crowds used to cheer for any one else - - but - - you know what - - - THAT is what made it so good. For many teams, if on a long shot they should happen to beat us - - it was better than winning the Brier. Then there is the unprecedented successes in mixed curling, especially with Sunny Morten and Fanny Trautman. Did you know that Sunny had arranged for me to give her eulogy at her funeral? Well that she did. She wrote it out herself years in advance. I think it had something to do with maintaining that connection to an absolutely grand few moments in this thing called life. Take that and all of it's competitiveness and success and couple that with the "OTHER" team made up of those crazy characters of Johnny Morten and Don Trautman and yourself Lea - - what a lot of fun. I think Maryanne Zieloff curled with that team as well. I went to see her when she was in Calgary Hospital (Ron Swanson let me ride with him) and then attended her funeral. I am so glad that I did - it seemed like it was OK to let all of that go - for as I mentioned earlier, that part of my life and the people in it were so important to me. I don't know if you knew this or not, but Alf is the one that convinced me to give fastball a try - to come and play for the Alice Hotel guys instead of sticking to baseball and the Camrose Cubs When Alf was approached to coach the Max McLean's Ladies Fastball I don't think those girls were prepared for what was to come. Where that group of girls ended up compared to where they were when they started - - simply - again - unbelievable. They learned disciplines that they had never even thought of. They had to re-learn how to throw a ball properly, how to swing a bat properly, how to bunt properly, how to cover bases properly, how to stand in the batter's box properly - - . Probably more important than this, they learned how to behave as a team - - no negative or bad attitudes allowed. But you know with all of this training from Alf - - the team won three provincial championships in a row. And when all of that was done several of the girls went on to play with the Muttart Blues out of Edmonton. I believe a couple of them went on to be all stars at the Nationals. What an incredible accomplishment. When the time came that I had to go down a different road, it was very, very tough. But you know Alf kept in touch through out all of it. When he was an Inspector for the Alberta Liquor Control Board, we met several times for a chin waggin session. Up in Edmonton, in Bruce, we were able to reconnect and always it was just like we had just gotten off of the ice after winning a close one. Now this is what I believe and I will relate a story to you. A couple of years ago I was able to reconnect to an elderly couple from the New Norway area - a couple that I had mentioned before in this letter. A short time later, the wife of this couple passed away. She was ninety three at the time and her husband was ninety five. At her funeral I sat down with this man to express my sentiments - - he put his hand on my shoulder and said to me "it's O K , we'll all be together one day" - and that is exactly how I think it is with my good friend Alf - - We'll all be together one day - and not that far down the road - I have been so blessed to know this man. What ever I can do to help you all that are his family, I will gladly do what ever I can Sincerely Jim