KOWALZIK

With sadness we announce the passing of Neva Lorraine Goldie Kowalzik of Rimbey, Alberta.  Neva passed away at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the age of 92 years.

Neva was born in the Lockhart District to Lawrence and Margaret (née Cummings) Calkins.  She became a dedicated farmer’s wife in 1952, marrying John Kowalzik.  Neva nurtured a large garden in order to feed their growing family:  Jack (1950), Yvonne (1951), Richard (1956), Keith (1961), and Terri (1968).  In the sixties they were fortunate to receive a dairy license, and the good times started as they built a large modular home to house their five lovely children, who turned out to be hard-working, successful people.  Everything was perfect until Johnie developed lung cancer and died at the age of 47 years.  Two years later, Neva lost her son Keith.  She relied on her grit to get through those difficult times.  Eventually, Neva sold the farm and moved back into Rimbey where she became an active community member and built the lovely home she lived in until recently.  She gradually became the matriarch of the Calkins clan and the Kowalzik family.  Neva lived an amazing 92 years.

Neva is survived by her partner Erling “Earl”; her sons Jack and Richard (Meredith); and her daughters Yvonne (Allan) and Terri (Terry); as well as her brother Trevor (Maureen).  She was also blessed with eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.  She loved her grandchildren and their pictures adorned many of the walls in her home.  Neva was predeceased by her husband John in 1977; her partner Jack Knowles; her son Keith in 1979; brother Dale in 2021; and a grandson Kyle in 1993.   

A Celebration of Neva’s Life will be held at the Rimbey United Church on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.  She will be laid to rest in the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Rimbey at a later date.  If desired, memorial donations in Neva’s memory may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Suite 1200 – 2300 Yonge Street, Box 2414, Toronto, Ontario  M4P 1E4 (www.heartandstroke.ca); or to Alberta Lung, Box 4500, Station South, Edmonton, Alberta  T6E  6K2 (www.ablung.ca).  Thoughts and messages to the family may be shared through the condolence area located at the bottom of this page. 

Service and Cremation Arrangements for the Late Neva Lorraine Goldie Kowalzik entrusted to the care of