Lina Hermine Gierke (nee Steil) passed away peacefully at Points West Living, Red Deer, Alberta on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the age of 85 years.

Lina was the first born to Hans and Gretchen (Muller) Steil of Oldenburg, Germany. After finishing school at fifteen years old, Lina continued with a two-year apprenticeship to become a Meat Cutter. Soon after her apprenticeship was finished, she met Rudolf ‘Rudy’ Gierke at a Christmas Concert in 1954. Both Lina and her mom knew this was the guy! Rudy and Lina were married on February 9, 1957.

Soon after Rudy and Lina were married, they had their first child, Monika. After only two years of being new parents, they were ready for the next chapter in life. Even though neither of them was fluent in English, they sold what little they had and prepared for their move to Canada. In 1959, they settled in Red Deer, Alberta and so the adventure began!!

Lina’s husband, Rudy became ill not long after they settled in Canada, so by 1960, Lina returned to work to help support their growing family. Lina was a hard-working woman and held many jobs in her life from multiple cleaning jobs to building holiday trailers and of course, meat cutting. Lina and her husband were active members of the German Canadian Club in Red Deer where they, along with their four children enjoyed many Bar-B-Q’s, October Fest’s, and Family Christmas parties often with friends in the same club. When Lina and Rudy were not working, they enjoyed taking the children for long drives and the occasional camping trip, while Lina and Rudy sang in perfect harmony together during the long car rides to and through the mountains, to keep themselves and the children entertained.

In 1979, Lina took a work transfer from Travelaire, where she was building holiday trailers to a sister company in Nisku, Alberta. Rudy and Lina, along with their two youngest children, settled on thirteen acres near Thorsby, Alberta, where they were able to raise and grow some of their own food while living a quieter life away from the city. Unfortunately, in December of 1984, Rudy unexpectedly passed away of a heart attack leaving Lina a widow at the age of forty-six. Lina continued to work to support her youngest child who was still living at home. Once Lina became an empty nester, she sold the acreage and moved to Blackfalds, Alberta in 1990.

New Years Eve, 1993, is when Lina first met the second love of her life, Chester Visotto, at a dance. The sparks did not fly right away, but Lina could only resist the charms of this man for so long. By 1994, Lina retired from working as a meat cutter in Red Deer, and she moved to Rocky Mountain House to be with Chester. Lina was happy to have her family quickly grow from four children of her own to the addition of Chester’s three children, (all married) and seven grandchildren. She was thrilled, to say the least!

Lina and Chester enjoyed fourteen wonderful years together. They loved playing cards, camping, and fishing with friends and family. They had a few opportunities to enjoy traveling and were able to tour a bit of the USA, as well as Italy and Germany together. At home, she loved to fuss with her flowers every spring and summer while Chester kept up on the lawn mowing; of course, ending a good day’s work by admiring their beautiful yard from their lawn chairs while enjoying an evening drink together. She was an avid knitter and loved trying out various crafts but most of all, she loved spending time with family.

Lina will be lovingly remembered by her four children, Monika (Tom) McNabb, Heiko (Tammy) Gierke, Gordon (Pam) Gierke, and Sonja (Darcy) Jehn, her three stepchildren, Leland (Bernadine) Visotto, Yvonne (Dale) Saarela, and Twila (Mike) Sztym, her thirteen grandchildren, Travis McNabb (Danielle
Seltenrich), Troy McNabb, Ryan Jehn, Hunter Gierke, Logan Gierke, Tanya (Dave) McInnis, Nicole (Grant) Valstar, Aaron (Chelsea) Visotto, Jordon (Becky) Visotto, Orrin (Tessa) Visotto, Nicolaus (Jessica) Sztym, and Kerrilee (Jon) Videiro, and her fourteen great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews still living in Germany.

Lina was predeceased by her husband Rudolf, her second love, Chester (May 2008), her only brother Hans-Dieter and both her parents.

A Public Celebration of Lina’s Life will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Lina’s honor may be made directly to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada at www.alzheimer.ca. Cremation entrusted to Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)

6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

ONLY LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM

IN THE CITY OF RED DEER

• Date : 2023-10-13
• Location : Locally Family Owned (Red Deer) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com