BERNARD POELZER, of Milk River, passed away peacefully at the Milk River Health Centre Long Term Care, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the age of 77 years, following a lengthy battle with dementia.

Bernard is survived by his wife Cecile, his daughters Marie (Chad) Ormston and Kathleen (James) Carlin, his grandsons Anthony & Mark Carlin, his brother Jerome Poelzer, his sister Sr. Dolores Poelzer, his in-laws Kay Poelzer, Sonja Countryman, Sharon Murphy and Tim Desmond, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents Michael & Elizabeth Poelzer, his siblings and in-laws Rita & Kenneth Wiederholt, Sr. Zitamarie Poelzer, Sr. Agnes Poelzer, Mildred & Leo Lisowski, Sr. Irene Poelzer, Arnold & Theresa Poelzer, Lillian Poelzer, Raphael Poelzer, Charles Poelzer, and Angela Desmond, as well as his first wife Maria Luisa.

Bernard was born December 18, 1940 on the family farm near Humboldt, SK, the youngest of 12 children. He received his early formal education at the local rural school in the Humboldt area, and then moved with his family to Kamloops, BC where he finished the remainder of his schooling. Bernard began working in carpentry. He spent a few years at a co-op in Guatemala with Maryknoll Missions. He returned, married Maria Luisa (who passed away in mid-1970s) and attended university in Nelson, BC where he got his Bachelor of Science. He continued on in carpentry until he married Cecile and moved to the Milk River area in 1979. He was employed with the County of Warner for several years. He began farming and raising animals: cows, sheep, llamas, random bird fowl (chickens, turkeys, ducks and peafowl), dogs and cats.

Bernard had a lifelong interest in music. He loved playing his guitar and singing songs. He was part of a travelling music group with his friend Art Hagen, who called themselves "Haywire and Binder Twine." Those two spent hours singing, talking, telling jokes and entertained at lodges and care facilities around southern Alberta. Bernard also loved fishing, sometimes more than farming. He attended St. Isidore's and St. Peter's Churches and was involved in events in the Catholic Churches.

In 2010, Bernard was diagnosed with dementia. Over the past eight years, he fought a good fight with his battle but it slowly wore his body down until there was just a shell of who he used to be. Bernard was an amazing, talented, generous man who laughed big, told great stories, wrote cowboy poetry, raised a great family, loved all, was loved by all and will be greatly missed by his family.

Relatives and Friends are invited to a Prayer Service at ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 321 Main Street Milk River, AB on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 7:30 P.M.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Benedicto Tugano IV, Celebrant. Following the Reception at the church, an Interment will take place in Allerston Cemetery.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Alzheimer Society, #402, 740 - 4 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0N9.