DAVE OSWALD

1939 - 2006

David Gary Oswald, beloved husband of Joan Oswald of Taber, passed  away at the Taber Hospital on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at the age of 67 years.
Dave was born in Lethbridge on January 22, 1939 and was the son of  George & Mary Oswald. He was raised in Warner where he received his  schooling and graduated from the Warner High School. He attended the  University of Montana in Missoula where he graduated with a Bachelor  of Education degree. Dave married Joan Ellert on March 30, 1964. He  began his teaching career in Valleyview, Alberta. In 1971 he moved to  Taber where he taught at Central School before taking the  Principalship of Dr. Hamman School, retiring in 1995. Dave had a  knack for remembering the names of his students and took great pride  in his role as an educator. He was actively involved in the community  with the Elks, Knights of Columbus, Kinsmen, K40 and received the  designation of “Citizen of the Year” in 1989. He loved to help others  and gave numerous volunteer hours to the community. Dave loved sports  - golf, baseball, basketball, hockey and slow pitch; inspiring him to  be involved as a coach and umpire over the years. He loved cycling  and many will recall him riding his bike to work.
Besides Joan, his loving wife of more than forty years, Dave is  survived by his son Craig (Patti) of Lethbridge, his daughter Rhonda  (Richard) Horvath of Taber and their children Jedd, Hannah and  Hallie, three of the most precious grandchildren, of whom Grandpa  loved so much. Dave is also survived by his brothers, sisters and  their families, Ron Oswald of Louisiana, USA, Reverend Ken (Florence)  Oswald of Lethbridge, Barbara Kimball of Deer Lodge, Montana, Betty  (Vane) Orcutt of Fort St. John, B.C., Doug (Jolayne) Oswald of  Coutts, Arthur (Jean) Oswald of Milk River and sister-in-law Lila  Oswald of Fort McMurray. Dave will also be fondly remembered by  Joan’s family including her father Raymond Ellert of Milk River, her  brothers, sisters and their families, Doreen (John) Clancy of  Victoria, B.C., Phil Ellert of Taber, Arlene (John) Thorsten of  Calgary, Darel (Sharon) Ellert of Parksville, B.C. and Valerie  (Riley) Larson of Lethbridge.
Dave was predeceased by his parents George & Mary Oswald, his brother  Bill, brother Richard in infancy, brother-in-law Lee Kimball, his  mother-in-law Iona Ellert and sister-in-law Lavon Ellert.
Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers at the Southland  Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at  7:00 P.M.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic  Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, May 26, 2006 at 10:30 A.M.  with Reverend Mariusz Sztuk SDS, Celebrant. A Private Interment will  follow at the Taber Memorial Garden.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Dave’s name may be made  directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 207, 542 - 7  Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta  T1J 2H1 or to the children’s  charity of one’s choice.