IDA HELENA KISSER

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IDA HELENA KISSER Ida Kisser of Winnipeg, Manitoba passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at the age of 85 years, and has gone on to her desired eternal rest with her Lord. Remaining to cherish Ida's memory are her son, Ron (Pansy Cole) and Pansy's two children, Susan and Nigel, in Victoria, British Columbia; daughter, Lois in Calgary, Alberta; sister Lena (Art Borkowsky) of Steinbach; brothers, Harold (Wendie) of Edmonton, Alberta and Arnie (Hilla) Schnellert of Winnipeg; as well as brother-in-law Henry Schalla of Steinbach. She was predeceased by her husband Reinhard; son Lawrence (this summer of 2015); her brother Fred; and sister Anne (only three months ago). On February 22, 1930, Ida was born on a farm near Steinbach, the first born child of her parents Rudolf and Olga Schnellert. In 1951 she met and married Reinhard Kisser. They began their life together in Winnipeg's north end, before relocating to Headingley in 1954, where they resided (at two different locations) until Reinhard's sudden death in 1996. Ida then moved into the Courts of St. James in 1997 where she resided for the next 15 years before moving into the Kiwanis Courts on Ness Avenue in 2012. A child of the Great Depression, Ida's life on the farm was not easy, and at the age of 17 she went to find work in Winnipeg at the Municipal Hospitals during the polio epidemic. After marriage in December 1951, Ida and Reinhard welcomed two sons within the first two years, who were joined by a sister in 1962. Before her husband retired in 1988, they did a lot of travelling, and then much more after that. They spent winters in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California, visited most of the States and the Canadian provinces and also took two trips to Europe. During widowhood, Ida in her own words, became a social butterfly reaching out to other widows and people living alone to provide friendship and moral support, which made her life more interesting and fulfilling. As Ida's health began slowly to deteriorate she had no choice but to slow down, but she continued to participate in the Bible study group which she had begun hosting in 1999. Ida was very supportive of her church for many years and made a lot of friends there. A memorial service for Ida and her son Lawrence will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in Ness Avenue Baptist Church, 2700 Ness Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. Many thanks for Ida's care in her last years especially to Arnie and Hilla, close friend Bev Rempel, many friends at her church, helper and friend Mary Lobb, the staff at Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts, palliative care nurses and doctors as well as the caring people at Oakview Place where she resided for her final five weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ida's memory to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, or to the Ness Avenue Baptist Church, 2700 Ness Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3J 1A7. LAWRENCE RICHARD KISSER Lawrence Kisser of Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly of Headingly, Manitoba) passed away suddenly on Friday, August 7, 2015. Born July 19, 1952, Lawrence was the eldest son of Reinhard and Ida Kisser. Lawrence is survived by his brother Ron in Victoria, British Columbia and his sister Lois in Calgary, Alberta. Wojcik's Funeral Chapel, 2157 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB in care of arrangements 204.897.4665. For those who wish to sign Wojcik's online Guest Book please visit our website at www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 31, 2015