WERNER GRONEMEYER

Posted: December 11th, 2013

1940 ~ 2013

Werner Rudolf Johan Gronemeyer, beloved husband of Leona Gronemeyer, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2013 at the age of 73.  Werner leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Shanda (Ken) Hunt of Calgary and Diana (Ernest) Baedke of Medicine Hat; four grandchildren, Jessica Baedke, Sydney Baedke, Joshua Baedke, and Kenny Hunt; four brothers, Hans (Louise) Kochan, Willie Gronemeyer, Karl (Laura) Gronemeyer, and Peter (Ruth) Gronemeyer; two sisters, Karla Holgate and Ella Jauerneck, and four sisters-in-law, Loretta Romaniuk, Diana (Duncan) Fisk, Lorraine Dyck, and Gisela Kochan.  Werner was predeceased by his parents, Willie and Ella Gronemeyer, his in-laws Henry and Katherine Dyck, one brother, Herman Kochan, brothers-in-law Arnold Jauerneck and Ed Dyck, and one nephew, Bernny Klosner.  Werner was born on September 16, 1940 in Bremen, Germany, and came to Canada in 1953 with his family to hoe sugar beets in the Raymond area.  Werner apprenticed as a painter and decorator in Lethbridge, and achieved journeyman status in 1962. In December, 1961, he met Leona Dyck when he tripped her at a skating rink, and always enjoyed telling people that she fell hard for him.  Werner and Leona were married on June 9, 1962, and welcomed Shanda in July, 1964, and Diana Lee in October, 1966.  Health issues forced Werner to stop painting, and he began his career with CP Rail in Lethbridge as a trainman in October, 1966.  The family relocated from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat in 1971, where Werner continued his career, retiring from the railroad in 1992 as a locomotive engineer.  Werner was extremely sociable, and loved spending time with his neighbours in his backyard and his work friends.  He had a sense of sportsmanship and adventure, and loved waterskiing, golfing, fishing, skiing, and riding his motorcycle.  Werner’s life took a tragic turn when he sustained a head injury in 1995, and for his remaining years he suffered chronic headaches and related side effects, but he did his best to remain a doting grandfather.  Werner would spend hours setting up dominoes in his living room, then laugh when his grandchildren would knock the first one over, causing them all to fall in under a minute. Werner attended the Good Samaritans Day Program for several years after his injury, and our family is grateful to Laura and Elsie for their love and support. In July, 2011, Werner moved into Masterpiece River Ridge, where he enjoyed the beautiful facilities and excellent care.  Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Thursday, December 12, 2013, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and again one hour prior to the service.  The Funeral Service will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel on Friday, December 13, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Julianna Wehrfritz-Hanson officiating.  Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.  As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to AJ’s Loan Cupboard, P.O. Box 45006, McKenzie Postal Outlet, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 7H3.  (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com)  Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455

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  1. Beth Melham says:

    I am sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God has left you with the gift of memories.

  2. Dawn says:

    Please accept our most heartfelt condolences. May the Almighty God comfort and sustain you through this difficult time (2 Corinthians 1;3-4).
    Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
    Dawn.

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