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Karl Heinz Sawatzky

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With a revolving door of loved ones by his side, Karl Heinz Sawatzky passed away on his 59th birthday, February 5th, 2021.

Born in Neu Halbstadt, Paraguay, he had what he described as an “easy childhood” before moving to Canada with his family in April 1969.

In 1995 he met not just one, but three of the loves of his life: his incredible wife, Michélla (nee Jackson), and two adoring little girls (Chelsea Hunter and Kaisha (David) Reynolds) that came with her. He was thrown into fatherhood quicker than most, but still managed to be one of the best.

In the years that followed, Karl would add two more troublemakers (a son Keiran Sawatzky, and a final daughter Kayleen Sawatzky) to the family he loved so fiercely. They were as fond of him as he was of them, often pointing and telling strangers “that’s my dad” in public (to Karl’s pretend embarrassment).

Karl had a presence that couldn’t be ignored. His large size and protective instincts meant he was feared by his daughters’ boyfriends, but his goofy sense of humour and signature horseshoe moustache earned him the affectionate nickname ‘Papa Karl’ from friends who got to know him.

Never one to turn down a piece of pie or a milkshake, Karl really was a giant teddy bear. He was happiest camping at the lake, riding down the highway on his Harley, or simply being with his wife and kids as they fought over Mario Party (not often joining in the games, but always a happy observer to the chaos).

When he got sick in 2016, all he wanted was for his family to continue going to school and growing in their achievements. He fought his five-year battle with an amount of strength and stubbornness no doctor thought was possible, because he “wasn’t done bugging [his] kids yet”.

In addition to his wife and four children, Karl leaves behind his beloved granddaughter Ashlynn Reynolds, mother Helene Sawatzky, brother Hans (Ana) Sawatzky, sister Helga (Andrew) Foo, numerous nephews and nieces, and a drawer full of uneaten cookies for his family to clean up. He was predeceased by his father Jakob Sawatzky.

The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and support workers who helped take care of Karl and his family throughout the years. A special thank you to Dr. Vicki Penney, Sandy Anderson, all the staff at Okotoks Home and Palliative Care, Okotoks Pharmacy, and the team in the Rapid Access Unit at South Campus Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider becoming an organ donor. Karl didn’t make it to see his transplant day, but someone else’s dad will.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

 

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