Obituary of Hedwig Patzer

Hedwig Patzer of Camrose, Alberta, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017, at the age of 92 years. Hedwig ("Hattie") Bussler was born on April 19, 1924 in Retunka, Poland, to Julius and Helene Bussler. They immigrated to Germany in 1940. Hedwig and her family went through many difficult times during the Second World War which lasted from September 21, 1939 until May 8, 1945. Hedwig and Hermann Patzer formed a friendship and were engaged to be married, but their ways were parted by his service in the army. He was captured and placed in a Russian prisoner of war camp. They neither saw nor heard from each other for seven years. When he was finally released from prison in 1949, he found out that Hedwig also still was alive and so in less than one year, they happily got married. They moved to Canada one year later where they both found jobs in Biggar, Saskatchewan. After hearing about sunny Alberta, they moved soon to Camrose, and enjoyed living there to the end of their lives. Both had many friends in and out of their church community. Hedwig, while living in Biggar, worked in the hospital laundry department, then at a dry-cleaning business, and as a seamstress. She never said "no" to helping other people. For many years, together with her husband, they cared for many less fortunate children in their home. Officially, they fostered over twenty children. She often was asked, "Why are you doing that?" Her answer was, "We learn from each other, and God is blessing us and the children." Hedwig accepted Christ as her Saviour in her teen years and was baptized together with her husband in Camrose in the early '60's. (-written by Hermann & Hedwig) Hedwig is survived by her daughter Ruth (Chuck) Wagner, grandchildren Sarah (Danny) Johnson, Aaron, and Rebecca, great grandchildren Danny III and Lucas, as well as a host of adopted family and friends in Canada and Germany. She was predeceased by her husband Hermann. A Funeral Service was held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 19, 2017, from the Camrose Church of God with Pastor Brian Krushel officiating. Interment has taken place in the Camrose Cemetery. If family and friends so desire memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Camrose Church of God - Nursery or to the Camrose Association for Community Living.