Joseph Ambrose Reichert

REICHERT, Joseph Ambrose

1931 - 2023

In the early morning hours of June 30, 2023, Joseph (Joe) Ambrose Reichert passed away peacefully at the South Calgary Health Centre. He was 92 years old. 

Joe was born on June 20, 1931 to John and Elizabeth (Stark) Reichert in Minton, SK. Joe was predeceased by 5 sisters and 3 brothers. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. His parents died when he was 3 years old. All the kids but one travelled to the Fairview area with an uncle and were placed in foster homes. Joe and his sister Rose were placed with a couple on a farm. 

Joe met his future wife Mary while working on a threshing crew in 1950. They married on Oct 23, 1956. They started out on a rented piece of land in a two room log house with an attic and heated by a wood stove. Through hard work and perseverance they earned enough to buy their own land in 1961 and raised 6 kids. Besides grain, he raised cattle, pigs and chickens. To supplement their income Joe would drive a water truck to the oil rigs in the north during the winter months. In 1972 he built a new house on the same property they owned with all the modern conveniences. 

Joe enjoyed building things, curling, fishing, hunting, puzzling and playing cards. Over the years he won a showcase loaded with trophies. He played in both the men’s and the mixed bonspiels. Though having grown up without a father and having no formal training or much education Joe had the creativeness and ability to imagine, construct and repair anything with his hands. 

As the kids grew up and left home, he realized that none of them were interested in farming so in 1990 he retired, sold the farm and moved to Lacombe AB. While living in a holiday trailer on a lot in a new subdivision they built a new home. One of Joe’s must-haves in this new home had to be a woodworking shop in the basement. Once established he created a garden spot and continued growing things. Although he was retired, he was always on the move or involved in a project. He was deeply involved in church and community. He won multiple blue ribbons for his fine produce at the annual agricultural fair, supplied all the vegetables for the annual St. Stephen’s parish fall supper and supplied vegetables to family and friends. At one point he had 3 gardens to attend to in Lacombe.

After having sold the house in Lacombe they moved to a Red Deer condo for a short while, didn’t like it, moved back to a duplex in Lacombe and after he had a health scare decided to finally move to a retirement seniors lodge in Red Deer. After his wife was hospitalized and couldn’t return to the Lodge they both were moved closer to Okotoks so their son could take care of them better. 

He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus serving both Fairview, Lacombe and Red Deer parishes. He loved getting together with friends to play Bocci or cards. It didn’t matter when or where he was always ready for some kind of card game, be it crib, hearts, spades, 500 or Smear. 

Joe is preceded in death by his daughter Cynthia Scherger (2012), his son Gerald (2022) and son-in-law Sam (2022); he is survived by his loving wife Mary of 66 years, daughter Denise, sons Henry (Kim), Daniel (Jiun) and Lawrence (Monica); grandson Evan (Kim), granddaughters Ashley (Jake), Rachel, Courtney (Cody) Rianna and Samantha; great grandchildren Cole, Kaylee, Brianna and Noah.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A Funeral Mass for Joseph will be St. Stephen's Catholic Church, 5128 - 53 Street, Lacombe, Alberta on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., with burial to follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

If friends so desire memorial tributes may be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation of Alberta, https://www.albertacancer.ca/, by mail 710, 10123 - 99 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1 or Parkinsons Association of Alberta, https://parkinsonassociation.ca/, by mail  Head office:120, 6835 Railway St SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2V6, Toll-Free: 1-800-561-1911.

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