Date of Birth: October 4, 1934
Date of Death: September 19, 2024
Alice was born Oct. 4, 1934, in the Melville/Fenwood district, christened Alice Irene Litzenberger, the eldest of five children of Louis and Clara (Garbe) Litzenberger. She had three sisters (Eleanor, Rose, and Donna) and onae brother (Gordon). She grew up on the family farm, attended Alkerton School until the end of Grade 8, and then moved into Melville when she was 16 to live and work on her own. She met, and then, on July 21, 1956, married Elmer Gabel. Together, they had a happy and full married life and raised four children: Nancy, Patricia, Richard, David. Every summer consisted of family camping trips; holidays were always spent with extended family.
Alice devoted herself to full-time motherhood and maintenance of the home for her family. She worked as the bookkeeper for the Melville Ambulance Association. Alice was a founding member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church congregation. She served as president of the church council and was actively involved with the church throughout her life.
In 1983, she suffered the tragic and sudden loss of Elmer and David in an auto accident.
On July 21, 2000, Alice married Arthur Lutz, with whom she enjoyed over two decades of happy married life. She loved being welcomed into Art’s family, which included his son, Kevin, and his daughter, Sandra Prybylski, and their families, and his sister, Gladys Schmidt. Alice and Art drove all the way to the end of the road in Alaska and spent many winter months at their condo in Arizona. They loved camping and fishing together.
Alice took great delight and pride in her and Art’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and all their accomplishments. She loved travelling, camping, fishing, quilting, playing cards, bowling, gardening, baking, and “kibbitzing”. She had many “Grandma-isms”, which are fondly and lovingly repeated by her grandchildren. Alice was an active member of her church. She valued her membership in her “four musketeers” group of close friends, just as she valued all of her friends. She came from a close family and worked at remaining close to all of her siblings, numerous in-laws, and too many to count, but dear to her heart, nieces and nephews.
Alice developed a keen interest in tracing family trees, leading her to research the genealogy of her and Elmer’s families. She ultimately had many copies printed of her work, which she provided to aunts and uncles, children and cousins.
In her last year of life, Alice resided at St. Paul Lutheran Home due to ill health, where Arthur spent countless hours devoted to her care. She passed away in her sleep on Sept. 19, 2024.
Alice was predeceased by her parents, Clara and Louis; sister Eleanor; brother Gordon; her husband, Elmer; and her son, David. She is survived by her sisters, Rose Miller (Joe) and Donna Petford (Bob); sister-in-law Myrna; her dear husband, Art; daughter Nancy (Ian), granddaughter Hannah (Sam), great-granddaughter Bowie, grandson Liam (Chantel), great-grandson Logan, great-granddaughter Olivia; daughter Patricia (Mark), granddaughter Dore (Edd), great-granddaughters Amber and Nina, granddaughter Kara (Chris), great-granddaughters Soleil and Maielle, step-great-grandson Mackenzie, grandson Levi, great-granddaughter Cora, step-granddaughters Savannah (Owen) and Catherine; son Richard (Brenda), granddaughter Meredith, step-granddaughters Cassie and Mandy; daughter-in-law Carole; and by Arthur’s family: his sister, Gladys, son Kevin, grandson Josh, granddaughter Janice (Richard), great-grandchildren Jacob and Emma, daughter Sandra (Bill), grandson Andrew, granddaughters Kristyn (Colton) and Abbey (Brendon).
She is greatly missed.
Alice’s funeral service was held on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Melville, with the Rev. Ronald Shumba officiating. Pianist Marilyn Senyk led the congregation in the hymns, “There Is a Balm in Gilead”, “Abide with Me”, “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace”. Other participants in the service were Nancy and Patti Gabel providing the eulogy, grandchildren Dore, Kara, Levi, Hannah and Liam, who all gave tributes, Meredith Gabel read a bible passage, and Richard Gabel was the urn bearer. Interment took place in Melville City Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.
