Obituary of Nettie Gerber
Nettie Gerber
Nettie Marie Gerber, originally of Kelsey, Alberta, passed away on December 22, 2022, at the age of 100 years. Nettie died of old age.
Nettie was born to Arthur and Carrie Zimmerman on the family farm at Kelsey. Nettie was one of nine children including siblings Edna, Cleda, Paul, Gerald, Mearl, Earl, and Glenna, and half-brother Clarence Grove.
As a schoolgirl, Nettie learned to knit which became a passion for her throughout her entire life. She was so grateful to her school teacher, Miss Violet Linfield, for teaching her how.
In 1942, Nettie married Virgil Merle Gerber. Nettie and Virgil had six children and farmed for almost 50 years in the Kelsey area until Virg passed away in 1990. They had so much fun together raising kids and farming but also travelling, dancing, and trying new things. They had many friends who they enjoyed very much. Nettie was a busy farm wife growing a huge garden, raising chickens, sewing for children, and supporting charities and causes she believed in. She knit, quilted, and read in her spare time. She loved colour and patterns. She so very much enjoyed her yellow car. She was friendly and reached out to people. Nettie was a goal-setter! She counted the things she made and the books she read. She went to Curves until she was the oldest member (91) and she set her sights on living to 100.
Nettie will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She was loved by so many people throughout her life.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Virginia (Lorne) Partridge, Annette Hillaby, David (Maureen) Gerber, Gloria Gerber (Robert Stefaniuk), Shelley Gerber (Robert Mathewson); daughter-in-law Joan Gerber (Paul Winterhalt); thirteen grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also left to cherish her memory are her brother Earl Zimmerman; sister Glenna Adams; and her sister-in-law Edith Gerber, who is also 100 years old.
She was predeceased by her parents Carrie and Arthur Zimmerman; her husband Virgil; son Rudy; brothers Clarence, Paul, Mearl, and Gerald; and sisters Cleda and Edna.
A Celebration of Life was held for Nettie at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the City Lights Church, 4920 - 48 Street in Camrose, officiated by Rev. Brian Hunter. The service will be live-streamed and recorded. The recording is accessible at the following link: CityLights Church Channel.
If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Nettie's memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, or a charity of one's choice.
