Obituary of Manfred Ferdinand Prokop

August 19, 1942 – Vienna, Austria

May 16, 2024 – Okotoks, Alberta

Manfred Prokop, beloved husband of Nova Gardner, of Okotoks, AB, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the age of 81 years after a brief but fierce battle with brain cancer and associated complications.

Manfred was born in Vienna, Austria, and completed his early education there. In 1965, he and his wife-to-be, Christiane, moved to the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, where he completed his doctorate in linguistics. They left the United States in 1969 and came to Edmonton and then Sherwood Park, where they lived until 2005. Manfred was a professor and department chair in Germanic Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta. He retired from the University in 1997 but continued to be active in promoting German and Austrian culture. For this work, he was awarded a Silver Medal of Honor for services to the Republic of Austria in 2004, as well as a Decoration of Merit in Gold from the Austrian Canadian Council in 2005.

Manfred and Chris had two sons, Robert and Thomas, but Rob tragically passed away in 1996. After Manfred and Chris were both retired, they relocated to the Calgary area to be closer to Tom, his wife Jackie, and their children, Alexa and Joel. After her own battle with cancer, Chris passed away in 2011.

Manfred was fortunate enough to start a second chapter of his life when he met Nova Gardner. The two were married in May 2017 and had many wonderful years together. They enjoyed travelling together and were able to take one last Caribbean cruise just weeks before Manfred’s illness was uncovered.

His hobbies included gardening and cooking. Even after retiring, he pursued academic topics, writing several reference books about the history of German-speaking people in Alberta.

A Private Family Service was held in Calgary. An Inurnment Service will be held at Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Sherwood Park.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made in Manfred’s honour, directly to Foothills Country Hospice Society (322001 32 St E, Okotoks, AB T1S 1A5), Tel: 403-995-4673, https://www.countryhospice.org/support-us/.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Manfred’s family here.

In living memory of Manfred Prokop, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.