Date of Birth: October 1, 1921
Date of Death: September 15, 2016
Mrs. Katherine (Kay) Schappert, long-time resident of St. Paul Lutheran Home, widow of the late Jacob Schappert, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, two weeks before her 95th birthday.
Katherine was born Oct. 1, 1921 on her uncle’s farm at Bateman, Sask. She was the daughter of Jacob and Magdelena (nee Lang) Klein, who came to Canada in 1912 from Bessarabia. She lived in the Kincaid/Bateman area as a child and attended school in Kincaid. At the age of 14, she moved to Melville with her parents, brothers and sisters. She was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Melville.
It was in Melville that Katherine met Jacob Schappert, and they were married on Oct. 8, 1939 in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Katherine kept busy looking after her home and raising their family of six children. She was an excellent housekeeper and cook; just ask any of her children or grandchildren about her cabbage rolls, perogies, stuffing and dill pickles. After her family had grown, she worked for a few years at the laundromat.
Before Katherine entered St. Paul Lutheran Home at the beginning of 2004, she stayed active with bowling and playing shuffleboard at the Seniors’ Centre. She also loved to play bingo, and she could always be found knitting or crocheting something. Her grandchildren always enjoyed a game of cards or Yahtzee with her.
Katherine was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Jacob (1999); daughter, Dale Panagabko (2013); son, Terry (2015); sons-in-law, Rudy Koenigbaur (2015) and Rudy Panagabko (2015); a great-grandchild, Dallas Kopp (2011); four sisters, Anna Schmidt, Caroline Schmidt, Hilda Dressler and Magdelena Barbier; and six brothers, John, William, Fred, Valentine, Gus and Herbert.
Katherine is survived by her two sons, Gerald (Janet) of Melville and Jim (Viola) of Regina; two daughters, Gloria Leavens of Lloydminster and Carol Koenigbaur of Melville; 10 grandchildren, Cindy Panagabko (Glenn Bianowsky), Melinda (Darcy) Kopp, Lori (Kent) Ashdown; Keith Leavens; Jason (Janita) Schappert, Jeff and Jody Schappert; Tammy (Rocky) Smith; Lynn (Kevin) Sabo and Brenda Koenigbaur (Kris Turchenek); eight great-grandchildren, Ashton Panagabko (Crystal Gall), Kevin Ashdown (Katie Elder) and Josie Ashdown; Jack Schappert, Tyler and Marissa Sidhu; Paige (Taylor) McCorriston and Amber Smith; as well as several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was held on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with
the Rev. Kim Sherwin officiating. The organist, Gaylene Matthews, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” and “How Great Thou Art.” The eulogist was Carol Koenigbaur. The urn bearer was Katherine’s granddaughter, Cindy Panagabko, with the rest of her grandchildren as honorary bearers.
Interment followed in the Melville City Cemetery.
Matthews Funeral Home, Melville, was entrusted with arrangements.
