Obituaries

With saddened hearts, we say goodbye to Alphonse Michael Getz who passed away suddenly on November 4, 2024 at the age of 90.

Alphonse is survived by his wife, Marlene, of 67 years; his sons Karl (Leonora), Lyle (Lynette), Stacey (Cory) and Monte (Deanna); grandchildren Tyrel (Melissa) Getz, Cody-Lynn (Cody) Morrell, Holly (Damon) Hillier, Beth (Sheldon) Getz, Justice Getz and Tierra Blair; great-grandchildren Jackson and Raelle Getz, Scotti and Rhen Morrell, Blake, Autumn and Luke Hillier, Katie Blair; his brother Clarence (Delores) Getz; his sisters Evelyn (Fred) Paslawski and Diane (Edwin) Beaudin; sisters-in-law Lorna Mayer and Patsy Mayer; and numerous nephews and nieces. Alphonse was predeceased by his parents Michael and Veronica Getz; parents-in-law Henry and Mary Mayer; infant son Joseph; his brother Wendelin Getz; sister-in-law Janet Getz; his sister Theresa Sidloski; brother-in-law Alex Sidloski; his sister Mary Seguin; brothers-in-law Emerson Seguin and Tony Mayer.

Alphonse (Phonse) was born April 7, 1934 in Senate, SK. In 1936 Mike and Veronica moved their family to a farm north of Francis, SK where Alphonse and his siblings grew up. When Alphonse first left the farm, he drove gravel truck for S.J. Helfrick and sons where he met Henry Mayer and more importantly, Marlene Mayer. He married the love of his life, Marlene Mayer, on October 30, 1957. Alphonse and Marlene first lived in Regina, SK and Alphonse worked for Capital Cab. They moved back to Francis where they lived there for many years and raised their four sons. Phonse drove school bus and worked as an ag mechanic for S.J. Helfrick & Sons Gravel and Massey Ferguson which became Long’s Equipment Massey Ferguson and later Mitchell’s Farm Supply. He probably visited every farmer’s field in the area and worked on every kid’s snowmobile in Francis in the winters. You name it, that man could fix it!

Phonse and Marlene moved to an acreage between Francis and Sedley and later moved to an acreage north of Vibank, SK. Alphonse worked for several years at Dutch Industries until his retirement. While working at Dutch, he was awarded Mr. Congeniality numerous times by his co-workers and even 15 years after his retirement was still getting invites to the annual Christmas party. He was always helping someone with something; fixing something, working on a project in his woodworking shop, strumming his guitar, working with cows, horses, raising rabbits, guinea hens, chickens, geese or hatching baby chicks in the back room of the house. Phonse loved his family, music, dancing and animals. Even after a bout of cancer and the loss of sight in his one eye, he was still active in his hobby shop and just this past winter made trinket boxes for all of his great-grandchildren.

Alphonse was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, neighbour, friend and you will be missed.

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the Francis Community Hall, Francis, Saskatchewan.

Donations in Alphonse’s memory may be made to the Pasqua Hospital Eye Centre.