Obituary of R. Fern Langemann – Educator and Artist

May 3, 1937 – May 16, 2011 Fern’s friends will remember her as a passionate educator and highly talented artist. Students in the elementary school system, where she worked hard to broaden the scope of elective choices, are richer for being exposed to her passion for teaching and ability to recognize and encourage the innate talents in every student. Her teaching colleagues will remember her for her knowledge, support and encouragement. Many in the Calgary Public School system will remember her contributions during years in curriculum planning and as Assistant Principal of Marion Carson Elementary. Fern was a great advocate for the teaching of art and believed everyone could be an artist. Even after she left formal teaching in the classroom to devote more time to cultivate her talent for landscape painting, she continued to nurture new artists. In recent years, while residing in Mexico, she combined her two loves of teaching and painting by creating and delivering painting classes for friends and neighbours. The pleasure she found interpreting the landscapes of Southern Alberta, Southern Africa and Latin America is evident in a substantial portfolio of paintings. With her paintings hanging in collections on five continents, Fern’s works now give thousands of others the pleasure of her insightful renderings. As one of her friends said of her, “Fern saw beauty in everything around her.” She spent much of her life unlocking this beauty and making it accessible to others through the medium of her paintings. Fern has left the world a better and more beautiful place through her passions for teaching and painting. A funeral service will be held at Christ Church, Elbow Park (3602 – 8th Street S.W.) on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers we would encourage you to consider making a donation to “Art à la Carte,” a foundation providing art for the comfort and warmth of patients receiving cancer treatment (see: www.artalacarte.org). In living memory of Fern Langemann, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park Cochrane by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403)243-8200.