DAN HUDEC

1924 ~ DAN HUDEC ~ 2023
Uncle Dan Hudec was born on October 9th, 1924 at the original homestead of his parents, Thomas and Kristina Hudec. Dan was the fourth child of 11 in the family. He attended Bowden School, east of Fox Valley, shortly before turning seven years old and continued in school until completion of grade 10. During the long winter months when weather interfered with travel to school, he kept up his studies with correspondence courses. Being the oldest son, Dan withdrew from school after grade 10 to farm with his father. For most of his life, other than for brief work stints in a slaughterhouse and picking sugar beets near Lethbridge, Alberta, Dan worked on the family farm, southeast of Fox Valley, raising cattle and growing crops on their sandy land. Dan farmed for most of his adult life with his brother, Tim. He and Tim were wonderful mechanics and inventors, keeping old equipment running for years beyond their expected life, always creating new ways to make the machines better. He and Tim were early innovators in soil preservation, turning to continuous cropping in the 1970’s, seeding into stubble to limit erosion.
Dan was a benevolent, gentle man, with a wonderful sense of humor, deep devotion to his Roman Catholic faith, and a great love of God. He was generous with his time given to his siblings, his many nieces and nephews and neighbours. Dan was community minded, sitting for a time on the Community Pasture Committee, the R.M. Council, Credit Union Board, and St. Mary’s R.C. Church Parish Council. In December of 1990, Uncle Dan left the farm and entered the new adventure of his life with marriage to Blanche Lerner, acquiring a whole new group of children and grandchildren. Uncle Dan and Aunt Blanche were happily together for nearly 33 years, residing in Medicine Hat until his death on April 25th, 2023. Dan is survived by his wife of nearly 33 years, Blanche; Blanche’s children and grandchildren; his siblings; sisters, Anne (Felixa), Katherine, Rita, and brother, David (Lise); sister-in-law, Delores; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, and his siblings, Dorothy, Bertha, Anselma, Gabriella, Tim, and George; and brother-in-law, John P.Hudec. Dan married Blanche Lerner on December 8, 1990. Dan and Blanche resided in Medicine Hat for 33 years. With this marriage Dan welcomed a family of eight children, Grace (Fred) Sehn, Bruce (Tracy – predeceased) Lerner, Hazel (Cameron) Schmaltz, Beatrice (Amos) Sehn, Beverly (Larry) Hudec , Steven (Anne) Lerner, Joan (James) Chisholm, Paulette Al (Schneider). With these children Dan gained 31 grandchildren and 64+ great-grandchildren. Dan had a great respect for his own extended family and the family he married into. Dan modelled a deep faith by living a prayerful, simple life. We all witnessed his dedication to daily mass, to the blessed Virgin Mary, and to scripture reading. He brought an encompassing gentle, kind and encouraging spirit to this family. We all grew to love him as a father and grandfather. We will all miss him dearly. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1 Dunmore Road SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5, on Monday, May 1st, 2023 from 6:00 pm to 6:50 pm, and at HOLY FAMILY PARISH on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 from 9:30 am to 10:20 am. Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at 7:00 pm with Father Iqbal Khurshid, Celebrant. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at HOLY FAMILY PARISH, 1451 Strachan Road SE MEDICINE HAT, AB T1B 4V3, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at 10:30 am with Father Iqbal Khurshid, Celebrant. Family and friends are also welcome to participate via livestream by logging on to www.youtube.com and joining the live webcast on Medicine Hat Holy Family Church on the above date and time. Memorial gifts in Dan’s memory may be made to the charity of ones choice. Condolences may be sent through www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Dan Hudec. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to

SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, “The Chapel in the Park #1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5 (403)528-2599 www.saamis.com inquiry@saamis.com Locally owned and directed CGR Holdings Ltd.