Obituary of Clarence Dean KATZENBERGER

April 14, 1944 – Cudworth, Saskatchewan
November 26, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

Clarence Katzenberger, beloved husband of Virginia Katzenberger (nee Snaith) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at the age of 75 years.

Clarence was born in Cudworth, SK on April 14, 1944.
He moved to Calgary, AB after graduating from Moose Jaw Tech. Clarence graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering Technology. On May of 1966, he married Virginia. He was a member of the Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists. He volunteered for the Marlborough Community Center during the time his children were involved in community sports. He was a member of the Highwood Golf and Country Club and the ARC Seniors Curling Club.  

Clarence accomplished much through his life. He had a large part in designing and building portions of Deerfoot Trail, Crowchild Trail, Sarcee Trail, Glenmore Trail, Ogden Road and the CP InterModal Train yard. He was a member of the negotiating team for the ring road with the Tsuu T’ina Nation, worked on one of the runways at the Calgary International Airport and numerous other projects in Calgary. He was involved in building the Crowsnest Trail in Lethbridge and a major freeway in Edmonton.  He then was transferred to the West Vancouver office to be the lead Resident Engineer for the phases 1,2 and 3 of the SkyTrain project.  He was the resident supervisor of the construction and completion of the Furry Creek Golf Course located up the Sunshine Coast.  He was the supervisor of the West Coast Express out of Mission B.C. leading into Vancouver. The most challenging project (not in a good way!!) was being the supervisor on a subdivision in Coquitlam that required upgrades and was the point person for managing resident’s complaints.  He was always open to learning new things and doing what he could to get the job done and done right.  He mentored many throughout the years.  One particular colleague of Clarence’s was hired by a municipality in Japan in large part on Clarence’s recommendation due to his reputation in the industry and that he was so highly respected. Clarence was one of the longest serving employees of Reid Crowther & Partners Ltd. of thirty-seven years. At the end of his career he became a consultant for Katz Enterprises and worked on many projects for the City of Calgary. 

Clarence enjoyed being physically active throughout his adult life participating in numerous sports.  He and Ginny curled for many years together while living in Calgary.  In the summer months he enjoyed playing men’s competitive fastball and was an amazing pitcher.  He loved playing broomball and volleyball in the early days. He always liked fishing and each year he would take his family for a two-week vacation to BC’s pristine Mara Lake camping where he taught his kids to swim.  Clarence took great pride in many years of coaching his daughter Kim’s softball teams and he spent many years involving himself in coaching his son Dean’s outdoor and indoor soccer teams. When Clarence and Ginny moved back to Calgary in 1998 from Surrey, BC, they became members of the ARC Seniors Curling Club and the Eagles Club. He loved the water, he enjoyed swimming, he was a good cook, was a shrewd card player and loved to entertain.  Of all the activities he participated in, dancing was one of his great loves of which he did without hesitation with Ginny at any function they attended.   Ginny and Clarence became members of the Highwood Golf and Country Club for a few years prior to his diagnosis.

One of Clarence’s most memorable vacations was when he and Ginny took his mother Helen on trip of a lifetime, to Disney World where they spent three weeks of hitting roller coasters, eating the sweetest grapefruit, enjoying the sites, seeing vintage cars, hitting the pools, taking a day trip to Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, and numerous other activities. Clarence was also very proud of his son graduating from college and currently working as an Infrastructure Support Analyst with Shared Health | Digital Health, a provincial government entity with health care in Manitoba.  As well his daughter who graduated from the Foothills School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. 

Clarence’s favourite word was “Watchamacallit” where he would always ask his son Dean to go get him a tool called the “Watchamacallit” and be perturbed when Dean would bring him the wrong tool.   

Besides his loving wife, Clarence is survived by his daughter Kim Brennen (Kelly Brennen) of Carstairs, AB; son Dean Katzenberger (Vanessa Poirier) of Winnipeg, MB; four grandchildren, Jonathon, Howie and Logan of Carstairs, AB and Camryn of Winnipeg, MB. Clarence is also survived by his one brother, Edwin Katzenberger of Saskatoon, SK, one sister Brenda Pochipinski of Biggar, SK; Three brothers-in-law, Bud Snaith of Calgary, AB, Lawrence Sosnowski of Wakaw, SK and Garnet Peiffer of Biggar, SK, two sisters-in-law Lois Doyle of Calgary, AB and Judy Snaith fo Osoyoos, BC; as well as nieces,Deane, Karen, Lori, and Cheryl; nephews, Tyrone, Sean, Jason, Terry, Lionel, Jeffery and Clinton Pochipinski of Biggar, SK.

Clarence was predeceased by his parents Helen and John; sister Beverly Sosnowski; in-laws, Ellen and Edward Snaith; brothers-in-law, Ted Snaith and Bernie Pochipinski; sisters-in-law, Edel Katzenberger and Marge Snaith; and nephew Ted Snaith.

Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.    Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Clarences’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Clarence Katzenberger. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD SE, CALGARY, AB, T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403- 256-9575.