Obituary of Elemer Sr Jerkovits
Elemer Sr, late of Regina, SK passed away peacefully at the age of 94 years with family by his side on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. Elemer was born in Budapest Hungary in 1925. He went to work for his father after high school. After war broke out in Europe, he enlisted in the Hungarian army. In December 1944, he was captured and arrested by the Soviet Army. On Easter Sunday, 1945, Elemer was sent to a prison labour camp in the Arctic Circle Northern Russia where he spent close to 11 years. In 1955, he was released and brought back to Hungary where he could only get a job working in a coal mine. Elemer met the love of his life (Maria) in Komlo, Hungary in 1956, and they were married there that same year. In the Fall of 1956, revolution broke out in Hungary. He fled for his life in November 1956, and Maria followed him in December. They found each other at a refugee camp in Italy where they re-affirmed their vows at the Vatican before moving to Canada in June 1957. Elemer and Maria moved to Regina shorty after that where he found work with the City of Regina. Ten years later, the University of Regina offered him a job that he couldn’t refuse and worked there until his retirement in the spring of 1990. Since his retirement, Elemer and Maria travelled back to Hungary numerous times until 2007. Elemer led an active life. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, swimming and spending time with family and friends. Elemer loved gardening and spending time in his yard. He was predeceased by his father Sandor, and his mother Martha. Elemer is survived by his wife Maria; sons Sandor (Ruth Copeland), Elemer Jr (Kendra Chesney), Laszlo (Nicole), and Gabor (Leslie); grandchildren Meghan, Graham (Paige), Travis, Trystal (Jake McGeough), Kristin, Kimberly Bustamante (Nichola), Renata, Laszlo Jr, Andras, Anthony (Vanessa Sprentz), and Zachery; great-grandchildren Mannix, Jax, and Liv; sister Angela Lehoczky; and numerous cousins in Australia. Funeral Mass will be held at Little Flower Parish, 420 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 1:00 pm with reception to be held afterward at the Regina Balaton Hungarian Club, 1925 McAra Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Elemer to a charity of personal choice.
