GADSBY/WESTWOODS NEWS -- Monday morning I watched my granddaughters get on the bus (Bailey for the first time, sigh). Please watch for all our young ones as they head for another school year.
A surprise 60th birthday party was held on Friday night for Donna Lang. Around 40 family and friends gathered at the Gadsby Community Hall. The surprise was a success. Happy birthday, Donna!
Donna McKay is enjoying a visit from her son, Father Jim Stenberg, Ontario, taking in such events as the pancake breakfast and Decoration Day on Sunday.
Over 70 people gathered at the church building on Sunday morning for the annual pancake breakfast. It was great to see familiar faces, friends and family home once again. Marie Vance was joined by brother Ken and Joanne Miller and Joanne’s mother Lil Schell; Marie’s sister Evelyn and family; daughter Teresa and Ken Shuab and family. They all headed out to the farm following the brunch.
Good to see Rila (Jackson) and her husband; Sheila (Berry); Hayden Samuel; Glen Reynolds; members of the Schroeder family; Clarice (Connon) Litke to name a few.
Then it was out to the cemetery for the 86th annual Decoration Day service. Braving the cold were about 150 veterans, speakers, participants, ladies and gentlemen and our youth. Following the march on and deposit of the colors, Reverend Ross Hegleton gave the invocation and lesson; opening remarks and welcome from Susan Mitchell (Legion) and Viola Imrie (Omega Circle). The guest speaker, Evelyn Shursen, enlightened and entertained everyone with all that the Stettler Legion does in a year and encouraged people to join and support our local Legion. Heart rending songs from Mame (Willis) Goehner with a connection to Gadsby that dates back to her grandparents Bud and Helen Starling, who lived in and had a business in Gadsby. Mame dedicated her songs to both sets of grandparents.
It is always with goose bumps that we watch the Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) pull in on their motorbikes. This year, it was the CAV 3rd Unit, Mount Sorrel, lead by president Adrian Wall, who gave a brief explanation of their responsibilities and support for the veterans. Coffee and donuts were served by the ladies of the Omega Circle. The donuts were donated this year by the Starling family.
Wayne and Margery Glasier’s guests this weekend were sister Kay and Doug Hankinson.
Guests at the Percy Heer farm were Doug and Inez (Skaley) Baldwin and son Duane from Red Deer. They also attended the service. Percy and Paulette hosted a turkey supper following the service with 13 family and friends present. Percy’s cousin Alan (Tom) and Vi Coultis from Camrose (Tom laid a wreath for the Camrose Legion); Doug and Inez and Duane; Doug and Shirley McKay; Jeanne Beisel; Velvet Nickerson; John, Jewel and girls. The first order of business was to warm up following the service.
Keeping track of rodeo events, congratulations to Curtis Cassidy who won first in Cranbrook last week.
Farewell to Rosemary (Bignell) and Vern who have moved out of Gadsby.