JOHN GUTFREUND

JOHN GUTFREUND September 22, 1962 ~ October 16, 2023
John Anton Gutfreund passed away at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in the early morning hours of Monday, October 16, 2023, at the age of 61 years. John spent 30 years of his life working at Methanex as a Computer Technician. After finishing college, he started there in his twenties and worked his way up to his final position as the IT Lead. However, on top of his physical title, John was also a mentor to his co-workers and above all, a dear friend and proud member of their team. Upon his retirement on January 1, 2023, John was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer where he spent the last six and a half months undergoing treatment to try and buy him time in hopes a cure would be found. Although the cancer had spread through his body, ultimately it was COVID-19 that sealed his fate as his body was just too weak from the cancer treatments to be able to fight off covid for a second time in two months. John, son of Shirley and John Gutfreund (both deceased) was an extremely devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. John is survived by his wife, Sherrie Gutfreund and his three children, Stefan Gutfreund (Kenzie) (and their children, Oliver and Harlan), Jerahmiah Gutfreund (Chey) and Matyna Gutfreund (Nicole). He is also survived by his siblings, Jim (Holly) Gutfreund and their two children, Emily and Owen; Susan (Ben) Sherburne; Valerie (Brian) Tobler and their children, Chelsea (Joel) Holmedal (Charlie and Brynn) and Tabetha and Branden Tobler. John and Sherrie were parents to many others in their lifetime including Jessica Wolosky-Donovan (Huntley), Sancia Wolosky-Donovan (Dylan, Jakob, Kasey and Alice) and Desirae Staples; with proud acknowledgment to all the others they have taken in or parented. Through the final weeks of John’s life, he was visited by everyone who loved him. All of his family and his friends spent time with him giving him back some of the love he always provided to them. Vigil Prayers will be recited at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. A Come & Go Celebration will be held in the Grandstand Banquet Room at the Medicine Hat Stampede Grounds, 2055 – 21 Avenue S.E., Medicine Hat on Monday, October 30, 2023, between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. with a program beginning at 12:00 p.m. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com) Memorial tributes in John’s name may be made directly to the Paediatric Unit at MHRH; Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre, Tom Baker Cancer Centre or to AJ’s Loan Cupboard. 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”