1950 ~ MIKE HERTZ ~ 2021

Mr. Michael Hertz of Medicine Hat and former Senior VP & Group Publisher at the Medicine Hat News and Southern Alberta Newspapers passed away on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at the age of 71 years.

Mike is survived by his wife and best friend Nancy, the love of his life and his two loving sons Jason (Cari Knutson) and Cregg (Jenny Stelter-Millard) as well as numerous nieces and nephews – Bernard (Kirsti) Giacobbo, Bernadette (Ken) Kaufman, Geralyn Mouille (Brian), Anna Marie (Bruce) Adolf, Serina Lavallie (Gordie), Rick Giacobbo and Angela Giacobbo and their families along with numerous cousins.

He was predeceased by his father Michael in 1958 at age 51, mother Clementine in 1994 at age 83, brothers Michael in 1945 at age 10, Edward in 1954 at age 17, Anthony in 1975 at age 39 and sister Dorothy in 2015 at age 82 and her husband Angelo in 2014.

Mike was born in Kindersley, Saskatchewan on June 19, 1950, and then raised on a farm at Alsask on the Alberta side of the border. His family had newly emigrated from the Ukraine through Germany in 1948, and had just settled on that farm. Life was tough in those first years especially after his Dad died and he and his mother lived alone on the farm. Mike attended school in Alsask to grade 6 and then went to Marengo for grades 7-10. In 1966-68 he went to St. Thomas College in North Battleford for grades 11 and 12, moving on to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon for three years. Mike worked in the hospitality industry starting at the Harwood in Moose Jaw and managing restaurants and hotels for 16 years in different towns in Saskatchewan before moving on to the newspaper industry in Moose Jaw.

At the Times Herald in Moose Jaw he worked as a Sales Rep for three years, moving on to be Director of Sales and Marketing at the Prince Albert Daily Herald for three years and Publisher at the Swift Current Sun for three years. In 1996, he was appointed Publisher of the Medicine Hat News and two years later, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher for the Alberta Newspaper Group for all of southern Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan. He loved the newspaper Industry and was in this position for over 22 years.

Mike was also very involved in the Community at all the places he lived, ranging from President of the Chamber of Commerce in Moose Jaw to executive boards in business and tourism across Saskatchewan. He was also a member of Rotary Clubs for 35 years including the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat for over 23 years. His passion in Medicine Hat was the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund which he supported in many ways from the time he moved to Medicine Hat.

Mike was passionate in his Catholic faith, a trait passed down to him by both his mother and sister Dorothy over the years.

Family and friends who wish to pay their respects may do so at the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME on Wednesday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday morning from 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Parish (1451 Strachan Road SE) on Thursday, August 26, 2021, with a tribute to Mike to begin at 10:15 a.m. and funeral mass following at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Rodel Abanto celebrant. The tribute and mass will be live streamed at Medicine Hat Holy Family Church Live Stream https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6zK-XzuXdDHj79rV6ut_Q. A private family interment will take place in the Oyen Cemetery later that day. Those who wish to remember Mike with a donation, may do so to the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund, c/o 3257 Dunmore Rd. SE, Medicine Hat, T1B 3R2 or to the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Clinic (make cheques payable to the Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation) 666 5th Street SW, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4H6 (please specify cancer clinic). To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: office@pattisonfuneralhome.com subject heading: Mike Hertz, or you may visit www.pattisonfuneralhome.com and leave a message of condolence.

Funeral Arrangements are by the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 540 South Railway St. SE, Medicine Hat T1A 4C2