Mr. Bert Schwartzkopf of Coalhurst, beloved husband of Mrs. Vera Schwartzkopf, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Sunday, June 21, 2020 at the age of 79 years.

Bert was born in Lethbridge on April 16, 1941, the youngest surviving son of Bert Sr. and Mary Schwartzkopf who immigrated to the Coalhurst area from Hungry in 1935.   Bert rode his horse to the Rolling Hills School from Grade 1 to 3 and after its closing he attended Coalhurst School where he completed Grade 12.  During high school, Bert met the love of his life (Vera Pelech) and they were in married in Lethbridge on September 10, 1960. Bert was accepted to the Devry School of Technology in Toronto in the fall of 1960 to study electronics however, he only attended for a few months before returning home to be with Vera and their eldest daughter Laurie, born in the spring of 1961. Upon returning home Bert farmed with his father helping to manage cropping and harvest of sugar beets and a small cow/calf operation.  In 1963, they expanded the cow calf operation and Bert Sr. also purchased calves from local auctions that were fed in a small feedlot. This marked the beginning of Bert’s feedlot operation and he continued to expand building pens, shelters, and feed bunks with the help of his father-in-law (Marion Pelech).  His family also grew, in 1964 their second daughter Karen was born and in 1971 their youngest child Brian was born.  Bert was always motivated to improve the farm and grow his operation and worked tirelessly for his family and he eventually expanded his operation to approximately 8000 cattle which included a custom feeding component.  Although the farm was central to his life, Bert was always an excellent father taking his children along to auction sales and purchasing a myriad of animals that his kids were always excited to bring home.  He taught them much about cattle, perseverance and having a good work ethic.   Bert was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1971 and he endured this disease the remainder of his life. Although it robbed him of many physical attributes it never robbed him of his spirt, love of his family, farm and life. Bert continued to farm with his son Brian until his passing. He was always a force to be reckoned with and MS never stopped him from continuing to operate farm machinery or go into the coral to look at the cattle.  His character, sense of humor and quick wit will be sorely missed.

Besides his loving wife and children, Bert is survived by eight grandchildren (Jordan, Brandon  and Wyatt Baker sons of Laurie (Schwartzkopf) and Brant Baker; Ryan and Amanda Genswein ( son and daughter of Dr. Karen (Schwartzkopf) and Bernie Genswein; Braiden, Emily and Zofia Schwartzkopf  (son and daughters of Brain Schwartzkopf and Crystal Fulford) and 1 great grandchild Everly Baker (daughter of Jordan and Raelyn Baker). Bert was predeceased by his parents and sisters Helen Ramias, Mary Medve and Erma Peters and survived by numerous nieces and nephews