KAY LESMEISTER (HAGER) (NEE IBAC

KAY LESMEISTER (HAGER) (NEE IBACH) June 2, 1927 ~ April 20, 2023
Katherine Marie Lesmeister, beloved wife of the late Jerry Hager, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side at Good Sam’s on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at the age of 95. Kay will be lovingly remembered by:  daughter, MARLENE Conibear of Donalda, AB., and her children, Terry Conibear, Karen (Dan Mulej) Conibear, Brad Barros and Lori (Earle) Brooks;  daughter, LINDA (Bob) Crockford of Dunmore, AB., and her children, Belinda (Joe Arneaud) Crockford and Shawn (Tracey) Crockford;  daughter-in-law, Laurie (CLINT † ) Lesmeister of Invermere, BC., and her children, Clay (Colleen) Lesmeister and Angelina (Danyo) Pagé;  daughter, JANET Wiebe of Calgary, AB., and her children, Tyson Wiebe and Joshua Wiebe;  23 great-grandchildren;  4 great-great-grandchildren and 2 more on the way.  Kay’s memory will be cherished by Jerry’s children, Barry (Joyce) Hager, Julie Stemman, Trish (Jim) Hirsekorn, Dan (Michele) Hager, Eve (Dave) Lantz, Rose (Dan) Cowan, Rita Hager (Jerry Edwards), Bonnie (Bernie) Cook, Laurie (Darby) Gagnon and Trina (Mike) Kobley as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her brother-in-law, John (Joan) Lesmeister; sisters-in-law, Marion Ibach, Clara Miller, Rose Lesmeister, Mildred Lesmeister, Frances Bell, Teresa Trevisan and Jerry’s sister, Caroline Knapik as well as many nieces, nephews and numerous cousins. Kay was predeceased by her first husband, Joe Lesmeister in 1987; second husband, Jerry Hager in 2022; son, Clint in 1999;  son-in-law, Jim Conibear in 2012; great-grandson, Bryson Barros in 2022; parents, Peter and Rose (Moser) Ibach; brothers, Henry, Tony (Kay) and Mike; sister, Irene (Joe) Lutz as well as Jerry’s son, Kelly Hager. Katherine Marie Ibach was born at Fox Valley, SK., on June 2, 1927, and was raised to be a hard working farm girl.  She left school at a young age to help her ailing mother take care of her home and younger children.  She met Joe when he was teaching at Blumenfeldt School and married him on May 27, 1946.  Together they had 4 children and shared 40 years of marriage.  Kay loved to take care of people.  She couldn’t sit down if something needed to be done.  She was a loving and supportive mother and went on to do numerous things in her 95 years.  She took care of many boarders, had a hairdressing salon, was a seamstress and sewed clothes for her family.  She enjoyed making crafts and loved to bake, becoming very adept at cake decorating.  Over her 35 year curling career, she became a very accomplished curler.  Through her senior years, Kay enjoyed bowling, golfing and even tried her hand at painting while living at St. Joseph’s Home.  In 2001, Kay married Jerry Hager and embraced his 11 children, treating them as her own for the next 22 years.  They both loved to dance, gamble a little and take short trips to visit their children.  Unfortunately, the last 2 years were not kind to them and health reasons forced them to live in separate senior homes.  This made them very upset, but Kay worked out a solution.  Every afternoon, she took the Special Transit and went to the Wellington to spend time sitting together, holding hands, napping and watching TV. She would then take Jerry to supper  before catching the bus back to St. Joseph’s.  Kay mothered everyone, both of her husbands, her many children and especially her grandchildren.  She loved cuddling all the babies.  Kay will be missed by all of her family, relatives and her many, many friends. WE LOVE YOU MOM!  Those wishing to pay their respects may do so starting one hour prior to Vigil Prayers which will be recited at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Vigil Prayers will be live streamed.  Anyone who is not able to attend but wishes to be a part of the service can visit www.cooksouthland.com and select the view broadcast button on the home page at service time. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Parish, 1451 Strachan Road S.E., Medicine Hat on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. with Father Iqbal Khurshid celebrant. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.  Those wishing to join the family virtually and experience the Funeral Mass via live stream are invited to watch by connecting to YouTube and searching: Medicine Hat Holy Family Church, then selecting the video link at service time. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com)  If friends so desire, donations in Kay’s memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral Chapel Crematorium & Reception Facility 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455 www.cooksouthland.com “Locally owned & directed”