Obituary of Roberta ORTWEIN

LaVerne Ortwein was born in Nanton, Alberta on October 13, 1923, youngest of the five daughters of William John (Jack) Harwood Middleton and Kate Pearl ODell, and lived on a simple homestead east of Nanton, Alberta and also in the town of Nanton. The family moved to Calgary in 1927 where she lived until she married Vernon Ortwein (Captain RCAF) in 1948. Vernon and LaVerne moved to Olds, Alberta, where her family expanded with the birth of her sons, Arden Vern Ortwein and Clare Alan Ortwein. She was a resident of Olds for many years before moving to Airdrie, Alberta and finally residing in the George Boyack Care Centre in Calgary, Alberta where she passed away on the evening of April 12, 2011. As a young girl in Calgary, she attended Balmoral, North Mount Pleasant, Crescent Heights and Western Canada schools. She trained as a teacher at the Calgary Normal School and began teaching in 1945, working with children in rural schools Andrews S. D., Alexander S. D., Alberta Park, Betchton, Sundre High School and also substituting at the Olds Senior High. She also trained at Olds College becoming an instructor there from 1953 to 1955. Her community affiliations were many and she volunteered for over 30 years with the Canadian Civil Defense, RCAF Air Cadets 185 Squadron Civilian Committee (Adjutant for 1 year). She was a member of the Olds Womens Institute, Olds Hospital Auxiliary, Ladies Auxiliary of the Canadian Legion No. 205 and was awarded a lifetime membership of the No. 105 in 1998. Her intense interest in genealogy gave her many connections to vast family branches of the Middleton, ODell and Ortwein families and she attended many family reunions across Canada over the years and also met relatives in England. She was an avid doll collector (a founding member of the Calgary Doll Club) and loved to perform as a member of the Olds-Carstairs Kitchen Band. She was full of fun and could always be counted on to joyfully join in all activities, the more theatrical the better, as she loved laughter. She derived great joy from the trips she and Vernon took to far flung places and from similar trips with her sister May. She is survived by her son Clare Alan Ortwein of Vancouver, her niece Laurie M. Csokonay (Dr. William) of Calgary, many nieces, nephews and good friends she held dear to her heart (too many to be namedyou know who you are!) LaVerne was predeceased by her beloved husband Vernon Ortwein, son Arden Vern Ortwein, sisters and their husbands Ruth Dell McVeigh (Mac), Irene Mary Oulton (Bill), Goldie Alberta Frew (Bert), Ella May Pearl Henderson (Fred) as well as two brothers George and Abey who died in childhood. Many thanks go to Dr. Aldridge, the nurses, caregivers and other staff members at the George Boyack Care Centre in Calgary. At LaVernes request, there will be no services held. Please do not send flowers. To honour her memory, please make a donation in her name to a charity or organization of your choice.