PATZER - On August 12, 2010, at the age of 76, Albert Wilfried Patzer went home to be with the Lord. Albert was born on October 7, 1933, on the family farm in the Prairie View district. He was the youngest of three children born to Adolph & Genovefa Patzer. He attended Moscow School as a child and later went to Luther College. Albert's heart belonged on the farm and he enjoyed farming with his father as the third generation on the home place. As needed, he worked various off farm jobs, some of which were with Waterman Waterbury and with P & W Construction. In the fall of 1956, his heart was pulled in a different direction. He met the love of his life, Viola Doreen Schultz and they were married on May 3, 1958. Albert & Viola were persuaded by his father to stay on the family farm and they all lived together in the same house for three years. It was a joy for them to finally purchase a small house to move onto the farm. Their own little chicken coop! In 1961, Albert became a proud father with the birth of his first son, Wendell. Their family grew quicker than expected when 13 months later, his second son, Lyle, arrived, followed two years later by their third son, Kelly. Their two bedroom house was bursting at the seams! In 1965, sadness entered Albert's life with the passing of his only brother, Siegfried. In 1966, tragedy struck again when both his mother and father were suddenly taken in a vehicle collision. These events changed the direction of Albert's life forever. The pressures of the farm operation became very heavy on Albert & Viola. Their days were now overflowing with the milking of up to 15 cows, with one milk machine, feeding range cattle, grain farming, raising and butchering pigs and making hay. All with three boys under the age of five. Albert learned very quickly to make something out of nothing and to bale every ditch he could, even the steep ones! Albert continued to do off farm work and spent many hours as a telephone lineman for the Turnhill Telephone Company. His bowed cowboy legs worked really well when climbing those poles! Albert also held many volunteer positions. Some of those were Peace Lutheran Church Council, Waldeck School Board, Baseball Coach and 4-H Project Leader. In 1974, Albert became a proud father once again with the birth of his fourth son, Darcy. Many mornings during this pregnancy, Albert would serenade Viola with, "How're you doin' country bumpkin, How's the frost out on the pumpkin?", a popular song on the hit parade that year. Albert enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes. Things like lapidary work, ice fishing, curling, lake fishing, reciting his old school poems and playing games. In 1998, Albert took the extra money he received from selling his square bale wagon and went on a missions trip to Russia with a team of men, including his son, Wendell. It was one of the high points in his life and he came back with many stories of hard times and was so filled with the joy of helping others to know the love of Christ. Albert also believed strongly in the cause of the Gideons and supported their mission to take scriptures to all the nations. A big part of Albert's life were his years spent as a school bus driver. He had a loving but firm way of dealing with his bus kids and they all knew not to cross the line with Mr. Patzer! Albert drove bus for over 30 years and retired in 2004. When Albert left the farm, his heart remained there and he continued to farm/ranch with his son, Darcy. This year marked the 100th Anniversary of the Patzer family farm and being at the big celebration on July 31st kept Albert going these last few months. We all wondered what would happen when that big day was over. We think he knew all along, it would be time to go home. Albert was predeceased by his parents, Adolph & Genovefa Patzer; his parents-in-law, Diedrich & Amanda Schultz; a brother, Siegfried Patzer; a brother-in-law, Karl Kalinowski; his sisters-in-law, Nora Shostal, Anne Schultz, Caroline Bowie/Jenkins; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Elmer & Florence Schultz, Jack & Mabel Byam and Raymond & Farida Schultz. He is survived by his wife, Viola; his sons and their families, Wendell (Wendy), Frontier, SK, their children, Emily (Nathan) Willems: Megan (Jordan) Rempel and daughter, Libby: Jeremy (Kyla) Patzer: Lyle (Laurie), Pennant, SK, their children, Aaron (Meghan) Patzer and daughter, Chloe: Jacie Patzer: Kelly (Lori), High River, AB, their children, Ryan Patzer (fiancée, Christa Garner): Justin (Kirstin) Patzer: Wyatt Patzer: Darcy (Rachelle), Waldeck, SK, their children, Dayton, Jesse and Kadey Patzer; his sister, Rosalind Kalinowski, Regina, SK; a sister-in-law, Kay Patzer, Swift Current, SK; his brothers-in-law, Arthur & Caroline Shostal, Norquay, SK, Richard Schultz, Lethbridge, AB; brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Eldon & Joyce Schultz, Swift Current, SK; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 1:00 pm from the Church of the Open Bible, Swift Current, SK with Pastor Rob Cochrane officiating. The pianist was Wendy Patzer with musical selections brought by John Regier singing, "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and "My Home, Sweet Home". The reading of the obituary was shared by Emily Willems and Jacie Patzer. Tributes were by Darcy Patzer (pre-recorded) and by a PowerPoint presentation. "Shall We Gather at the River" and "Great is Thy Faithfulness" were sung by the congregation. The ushers in the church were Ron Dickie, Jake Piercey, Reg Shostal and Darrell Wiebe. The Honorary Pallbearers were Victor Wagner, Rose Mantie, Harold & Doris Ring, Bill & Donna Colquhoun, Robert & Barb Klassen, Edward Reimer, Steve Philip and Howard Heard. The Interment Service was held at the Peace Lutheran Church Cemetery, Prairie View, SK with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers, Aaron Patzer, Jeremy Patzer, Ryan Patzer, Justin Patzer, Wyatt Patzer and Jordan Rempel. In memory of Albert Patzer, donations made to the Gideons International would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK.