Obituary
Born in: Schweidnitz, Germany
Born on: January 13, 1938
Passed on: March 9, 2013

Katharina (Katja/Kathy) Issmer (nee
Koslowski) passed away peacefully in her sleep at Fort St. John Hospital on March 9, 2013. She fought a courageous battle with numerous illnesses, lastly, pancreatic cancer.

She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Karl-Heinz Issmer and her four children, Nicoline Payne (Anacortes, WA), Christina Issmer (Victoria, BC), Corinne Issmer (Victoria, BC) and Christopher Issmer (Kamloops, BC). She is also survived by her sister, Christine Lister (Penticton, BC) and brother, Martin Koslowski (Kamloops, BC) and her five grandchildren: Erika and Conrad Payne, Elena and Carsten Matlo, and Grace Issmer.

Katja was born in Schweidnitz, Germany on January 13, 1938 and immigrated to Canada with her family when she was 16. After a brief time in Nelson, BC, she moved with her family to Victoria, BC where she met and married Karl-Heinz Issmer. They had four beautiful children, and in 1973, they moved to Flatrock, BC to farm and raise Aberdeen Angus, which they did until 1996. After considering
several other places in BC, they decided they loved the Peace country, and they retired and stayed in the Fort St John area.

Katja was a beautiful, warm person who engaged and encouraged others. She loved music, and played the classical violin, participating in the Dawson Creek Symphonette for many years. We will
remember our mother as a warm, loving, avid homemaker, whose creativity, love and resourcefulness made our house a home, and enabled us to pursue our dreams. She taught violin privately, as well as teaching German by correspondence for many years with the Fort St. John School district.

In addition to her delicious German tortes and Christmas baking, her grandchildren will remember her for her smile, her card playing moves, her delicious meals and her famous “eat, eat or the sun won’t shine”. We will all miss her greatly.

We are hosting a celebration of her life on May 4, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Peace Lutheran Church in Fort St. John. Please join us if you can. Condolences may be sent to nicolinep13@msn.com.