Obituary of Emma Tennis

Emma Tennis of Wetaskiwin, formerly of Camrose, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at the age of 94 years. Emma was born in the Swedish village of Gammalsvenskby, Russia on November 5, 1921, the fourth child of Johan and Melita (nee Kramer) Buskas. She and her family left Russia for Sweden in the 1929 exodus. She spent nearly a year in Sweden where she was able to begin school, and then left for Canada. Emma attended Battle Lake and Star Schools where she excelled despite not speaking English when she arrived. She worked as a maid and a dry goods clerk in Wetaskiwin after leaving school. Emma married Ivan Tennis on June 28th, 1946 and settled on Ivan's land near Red Deer Lake where they built a successful farming operation and raised their five children. In 1980 Emma and Ivan moved to their newly built home in Camrose. In 1993, the newly built Hillside condominium development became their home. They returned to Wetaskiwin in 2008 to Sunrise Village. Emma kept an immaculate home and garden. She excelled at cooking, baking, gardening, preserving, knitting, crocheting and the other varied tasks of farm life all the while humming her favourite hymns. After retirement Ivan and Emma traveled and spent time at their Red Deer Lake campsite. Emma was an original member of the Golden Tones where she sang soprano for many years. Over the years, she was active in her church. Her faith was important to her. Emma's kind and caring nature made her an easy friend to all. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their families will always remember how special she made us feel. Emma is survived by her children Carol Oslie, Linda (Wally) Pelletier, Myrna (Ed) Wyse, Larry (Robin) Tennis, Garry Tennis; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren with another one due in the summer; brother Nels and sister-in-law Roxann Buskas; brother-in-law Dewey Holt; two sisters-in-law Edith Tennis and Lorraine Tennis, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 63 years Ivan, her parents Johan and Melita Buskas, brother Gus and sister-in-law Milly Buskas, four brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and one infant sister and two preschool brothers in Russia. A Funeral Service was held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, February 26, 2016 at Messiah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Don Bolstad officiating. Interment has taken place in the Svea Calvary Lutheran Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to wear an article of pink clothing to honor Emma's memory. If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to Messiah Lutheran Church, CLBI, or to the Svea Calvary Lutheran Cemetery Fund.