Obituary of Anton Erker

B I O G R A P H Y ERKER: Anton Martin “Tony” Erker passed away in the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the age of 96 years. Tony is survived by: his wife Katherine; six children: Joe (Gina) Erker, Grace (Ron) Gauthier, Dennis (Doreen) Erker, Shirley (Elwyn) Jones, Marlene (Ron) Clark, Diane Kennedy; thirteen grandchildren: Kenny (Val), Maryann (Darren), John (Chris), Gary, Kevin, Connie, Coral (Peter), Shane (Brandy), Tyson, Todd, Jason, Jordan and Stacey; thirteen great grandchildren: Dusty, Colleen, Kayla, Michael, Jesse, Nicholas, Patrick, Taylor, Sabrina, Danny, Gabriel, Kael and Dianne; three brothers: Nels, Raymond and Jack; one sister Marj Stenstrom. A prayer service for Tony was conducted from St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 5:00 P.M. The funeral service for Tony was conducted from St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Lloydminster on Monday, December 3, 2007 at 10:00 A.M. with Father Jan Sobkowicz officiating. Active pallbearers were Grandsons: Ken Erker, John Gauthier, Kevin Erker, Garry Gauthier, Shane Jones, Tyson Clark, Todd Clark, Jason Clark and Jordan Kennedy. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy Born June 15, 1911 Son of Vincent and Adelia; immigrants from Romania of German dissent. My grandfather was a farmer near Cactus Lake, SK. My grandparents were productive people, both in farming and raising children. Dad was the oldest of 11 Brothers and 3 Sisters. Dad grew up with limited schooling – attending the local school Kakesh – very little time at school because he was required to help with the family farm. Dad married our mother Maglelina Kohlman on July 21, 1936 and soon after moved to the Greenstreet area – north east of Lloydminster. In 1958 our family moved to the Mchaughlin area where he continued to farm until retiring in 1973. Dad sold the family farm to our sister Shirley and Elvyn who still farm it. Dad was always hard working and while we never had a lot of extras we seemed to have enough. Dad was not as productive as his farther who had 14 children – Dad only had 6 children and 3 of us were adopted – Grace, Diane and myself. While we had very little extras growing up we always looked forward to family gatherings of Dad’s family – they were all accomplished musicians. I believe only 1 of the 11 brothers did not play a musical instrument. I recall as a child the special gatherings where our uncles would plan music whenever they gathered and many times right thru the night. Dad’s choice of instruments was an accordion. After Dad retired and was alone he started traveling to Arizona for the winter. Dad did the trip there and back with a Ford pickup and small camper. Even before he started doing these long trips, we were suspect of his driving skills and he would often return with a dint or scrape from his trip – of course it was never his fault. After a few trips he met and married Martha Hobson. While Martha brought a new live and inspiration to him she unfortunately died within a few years later. While traveling to Arizona dad took up bowling and shuffle board – and became very proficient at both. He always took a keen interest in handiwork. Not only did he work at home improvements at their own home in Arizona but he also did gardening all around the neighborhood. Socially they participated within their community with local tours, potluck dinners and of course his lifelong love of dancing. After Martha died Dad returned home very sad and lonely. He did not function well on his own. He’s demeanor was sad and seemed like the world was closing in. He was not that easy to be around. During Dad’s 85th year he met Katherine. Shortly after meeting her, my sister Marlene told me about her and that they were likely getting married. They came to visit us in Edmonton to introduce her and announce their upcoming wedding. When I asked why so soon he replied “At age 85 nothing is too soon!” They married soon after and had a beautiful wedding in Lloydminster. I was honored that he asked me to be his best man. The wedding was a complete celebration with a dinner and dance. Of course the music was provided by remnants of the Erker Orchestra. I don’t think the bride and groom missed a dance that night. Katherine brought a whole new sense of enjoyment and meaning to Dad’s life. They were truly a young couple in love. They traveled, socialized, bowled and of course danced 2 or 3 nights a week. Once I asked him why they went dancing 3 nights a week – he responded “because they find places to dance 5 nights a week.” Katherine, our family will always be indebted to you for what you brought into his life, but more important the added good years he had because of you. I would suggest that you gave him an extra 10 years. You had a special way of bringing out the best in him and you shared a total life together. Things I learned from my father: 1. Always respect for your elders 2. Never waste food, always eat what’s put in front of you. 3. Never waste anything – when we were quite young Dad worked at Nelson Lur – Stayed after hours picking up nails. Even as a kid I learned to straighten nails. 4. Cleanliness – always picking up things – not only at home but wherever he went – Even when he was using his walker he would stop and somehow pick up litter whenever he saw it. 5. Berry picking – he enjoyed it and as kids Grace and I often would go with him. 6. Never ask anyone to do a job you wouldn’t do – the dirtier the job the more likely he would be the first to pitch in. 7. Dad had a very clear definition of hard work – best described by a story. . . “Soon after he and Katherine married we were asking about the residents in their complex and their relative ages. Katherine pointed out that one lady was 92. Dad responded that she obviously had never worked that hard. Katherine argued that the lady was a school teacher and drove a school bus her entire career. Dad said ‘that’s what I mean - she never really worked’. His definition of work was ‘with your hands and back.’ I was somewhat taken back by his comment since my career has mostly been in an office environment, so I challenged him my saying ‘so what about me – haven’t I worked?’ He responded within a blink ‘well you did when you were a kid!’” He was always fixing something even into his 95th year. He was still doing gardening. His own garden, pruning throughout the complex, shoveling walks and helping what he called “the old ladies” – many in their 70’s and 80’s. Over the last year he was having digestive problems – over his lifetime meals were meat and potatoes and desert, followed by coffee. He did not eat salads, green vegetables or fiber foods. You had to believe that these habits would eventually affect your digestive system. However can you argue with a life that reaches 96? His last months were not easy. This past June when we visited he told me it was over- he’d had enough. I go on an annual gold trip and informed my friends that I may have to leave early because he may die – he didn’t! This year Doreen and I were on several trips and each time I visited with him before we left and each time he said it was enough and we said our goodbyes, and each time he seemed to survive. Last week when Grace and I came to see him, there wasn’t much left of his physical body. It took us almost ½ hour to wake him and when he opened his eyes and looked at us he said “I’ve had the biscuit” Even though his heart kept him beyond what was expected he finally left a world of extreme suffering. Today we shouldn’t be mourning a man’s passing but rather we should be celebrating a life that was fully lived. While we will miss him and it will be particularly difficult for you Katherine – his last months were not good for him. There was no dignity in just surviving. We are forever grateful for our father, his lessons to us and especially his ‘living examples’. We are grateful to you Katherine – and your family for giving him the extra years and love that he very much appreciated. It is often said that at the end of life what will matter most – will not be the job we had; the house we lived in; nor the size of our bank account. What will matter most will be what we have been or meant in the lives of others. We can take joy in knowing what our father meant to many others – as a father, husband, grandfather, relative, neighbor or friend. CARD OF THANKS The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses and hospital staff for the wonderful care given to Tony while a patient there. Also thanks to the staff and nurses at Dr. Cooke for caring for Tony. Special thanks to Tracey McNaughton for her dedicated care she gave Tony. Thanks to Father Jan for the lovely service; to the organist Donna Weston and church choir for the lovely music supplied. Thank you to Shane Jones and Dennis Erker for their touching eulogies and to the pallbearers. Last but not least to the C.W.L Ladies for the lovely lunch provided. Also thank you for the cards, flowers, phone calls, visits and donations in Tony’s memory. Thanks to McCaw Funeral Service for their compassion in handling the funeral arrangements. Katherine (Katie Dennis) Erker & Erker Family Joe, Grace, Dennis, Shirley, Marlene, Diane & Families Donations may be made to the Dr. Cooke Comfort Fund.