Luke Hilsendager

September 23, 1932 ~ October 16, 2021

Luke Hilsendager passed away at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at the age of 89 years. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Verna as well as his 5 children. Randy (Marina), Cheryl (Darcy) Thoreson, Michelle (Alvin) Miller, Rick (Peggy) and Debbie (Ian) MacGillivray. His memory will also be cherished in the hearts of his 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, soon to be nine. Luke was very proud of his grandchildren and he could always make the babies smile. Luke is survived by his 2 brothers, Jerry (Lil) and Ed (Marianne) as well as 3 sisters, Loretta Maley, Florence (Dewell) Linn and Emma (Ray) Wachs. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Gertrude Hilsendager; sister, Irene Uzelman and 2 brothers, Bob and Leo. Luke was born on the farm at Revenue, SK. on September 23, 1932. He was the 3rd oldest of 9 children. Luke was always a hard worker and at the age of 16 went to work on the section for the CPR. He could swing a spike mall with the best of them. He tried to get on the train crew but was told “come back when you’re 18”. On his 18th birthday, he went back and was hired to work in the roundhouse and shortly thereafter he became a fireman, his dream job shovelling tons of coal into the old steam engines. While stationed in Wilkie, he met Verna and they were married in 1955. Diesel powered engines were starting to be used and Luke no longer had enough seniority to remain railroading and provide for his family. Oil drilling was booming in the area at the time so he joined the patch. He spent the next 43 years there, moving the family from one location to the next for the first 3 years, then moving to a new town every summer, closest to where the job took him. In 1965, he lost most of the use of his right arm in a drilling accident, but that didn’t hold him back. He learned to write with his left hand and went back to school and upgraded his education while convalescing. In 2 years, he was back in the patch as though he had never left. Other than a short time in BC., working in a pulp mill and a couple of years owning a hotel in Tompkins, SK., the oil was still in his blood. The last 25 years were spent consulting with his own company, Buffalo Consulting. When Luke turned 65, he retired and the next several years were spent travelling and camping with friends old and new. A Private Family Celebration of Luke’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. with Deacon Risling celebrant. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery. The chapel service will be live streamed and anyone wishing to experience Luke’s service should visit www.cooksouthland.com and select the View Broadcast Button on the homepage at service time. Memorial donations in Luke’s name may be made directly to the Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation, subject heading: Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre, 666 – 5 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, AB., T1A 4H6. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, Crematorium & Reception Facility, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4V4. Telephone 403-527-6455 or toll free at 1-877-528-6455.

• Date : 2021-10-16
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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