Hedwig Munkler

March 21, 1923 – June 8, 2016


The passing of Hedy (nee Crone) Munkler of St. Mary’s Villa, Humboldt, SK, (and formerly of St. Gregor, SK), occurred at her residence on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at 93 years of age.  Hedy was born in Garrel, Oldenburg, Germany, on Sunday, March 21, 1923, to Henry and Maria (Rolfes) Crone.  She came to Canada with her family in 1928. She celebrated her fifth birthday on the ship before it arrived in Halifax, NS. Hedy attended school in Annaheim, then worked for five years for Joe and Henry Pleiter, keeping house, gardening and doing farm chores.  In 1941, she met Arthur Munkler at a dance in St. Gregor, and they were married on April 26, 1943.  They farmed on the E. Munkler farm until 1946, when they bought their own farm where they built a new house.  Art and Hedy lived on their farm until 1975 when they built a new home and moved into St. Gregor.  In 2001, they moved to their condo in Humboldt.  Art passed away on Friday, April 18, 2003.  Hedy continued to reside in the condo until moving to St. Mary’s Villa in 2014.  Hedy had a good sense for the business aspects of farming and played an integral part in the farming life that she and Art built together.  Decisions were made jointly as they changed and adapted to new practices, allowing them to expand the farm.  This love of farming carried on long after retirement, as she continued to drive the countryside checking on fields and calling around to see how much rain people got. Even after she could no longer drive, crops were a frequent topic of conversation with Hedy.  Through spending time together and developing traditions, Hedy built a strong sense of family in her children and grandchildren.  The winter tradition of Christmas Eve gatherings is a heartwarming memory for the Munkler family.  Card games were played long into the night, giving a source of enjoyment during the family building that was so important to Hedy.  Summer gatherings at the lake with fishing, waterskiing, and campfire stories created another tradition where family came together.  The lake name changed with the generations from Waskesiu to Barrier, but the building of a strong sense of family remained constant.  She loved to read, play cards and, of course, fishing was always a pleasant pastime, as was watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren learn to waterski from her chair on the beach. During their retirement, Hedy and Art loved to travel, visiting their daughter Jeannette in California, family in Germany, Minnesota, and Ontario, and sightseeing throughout Western Canada and the United States.  Another pastime was gardening.  Her beautiful flowerbeds and well-manicured yard were a source of pride.  She extended her hospitality to everyone and there were always those delicious buns to enjoy. Hedy was very active in the St. Gregor community working with the CWL as an executive member as well as the Community Club, the Catering Club and the Senior Citizens Club.  Hedy will be lovingly remembered by her eight children and 22 grandchildren:  Sylvia (Lawrence) Wuchner and family, James Wuchner, David (Tanya) Wuchner, Gloria (Warren) Woodcock, June Duggleby, and Joyce (Mark) Barlage;  Jeannette (John) Skeehan;  Robert (Valorie) Munkler and family, Bobbi (Warren) Helgason, Jacki (Travis) Hess and Russell Munkler;  Carol (Leonard) Gerspacher and family, Sheldon Gerspacher and Colin (Lisa) Gerspacher; Joan (Rodney) Morelli and family, Ivy (Kim) Mathison, Lee (Marlo) Morelli, Allison (Steven) Fries and Jenny (Gerald) Trimble;  Francis (Ramona) Munkler and family, Kim (Gaetan) Gobeil, Jeremy (Amanda) Munkler, Morgan (Amanda) Munkler, Scott (Jessa Meidinger) Munkler and Cory (Lindsay Clark) Munkler;  Stephen Munkler;  and Patrick (Alana) Munkler and family, Tyson Munkler, Kendall (Ryly Sather) Munkler and Shane Munkler; and by 35 great-grandchildren.  Hedy is also survived by her two brothers:  Joseph (Eleanor) Crone and John (Dorothy) Crone; four sisters: Martha Kunz, Anne (Bernard) Niekamp, Pauline (Simon) Kunz and Lucille Wuchner; in-laws: Lorraine Crone, Josephine Crone, Rita Crone, Rita Crone and Josie Carrobourg; and by numerous nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Arthur in 2003; parents, Henry and Marie (nee Rolfes) Crone; one sister, Elizabeth (Alois) Plemel; six brothers: Cleo, Art (Martha), Paul, Erwin, Donald, and Ben (in infancy); and by in-laws:   Barbara Crone, Martin Wuchner and Phillip Kunz.  The Funeral Mass was offered at St. Gregory R.C. Church, St. Gregor, on Monday, June 13, 2016, at 1:30 p.m., celebrated by Fr. Anthony Atter and concelebrated by Fr. Rudolph Novecosky, OSB and Fr. Daniel Muyres, OSB.  Others taking part were:  Kendall Munkler, crossbearer; Bobbi Helgason and Jacki Hess, scripture readers; Ivy Mathison and Colin Gerspacher, intentions; Kim Gobeil and Cory Munkler, giftbearers; Tanya Wuchner and Jenny Trimble, memorial table attendants; and Russell Munker, eulogist.  Music ministry was provided by organist Doug Schmidt and the St. Gregory Parish Choir.  Honorary pallbearers were “all those who shared in Hedy’s life”.  Active pallbearers were David Wuchner, Russell Munkler, Sheldon Gerspacher, Lee Morelli, Scott Munkler, and Shane Munkler.  Interment followed at St. Gregory R.C. Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be directed to either the St. Mary’s Villa Foundation or the St. Gregory R.C. Cemetery Fund.

This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)