Obituary - Anna Unger

November 8, 1927 ~ December 23, 2025

Anna Unger (nee Schalkwyk) was born Anna Elisabeth Brandenburg on November 8, 1927 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and passed away at Sunnyside Nursing Home in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the age of 98 years. She was the second child in a family of four. Her mother passed away in 1942, at the age of 45, after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Anna was 14 at the time, and her father eventually remarried a first cousin of her mother about 3 years later.

Anna studied to become a teacher, got her teaching certificate in 1947 and eventually got her Hoofd Onderwijzeres certificate (equivalent to a Master's degree) in 1950 at the age of 23. In April 1951, she travelled all the way to Moengo, Suriname to teach in a Moravian Mission School for indigenous girls. A correspondence was begun with Leonard Theodoor Schalkwyk in Holland and they were engaged by mail in May 1952. In November 1952, she got a leave of absence from the school to travel back to Amsterdam and then an honourary discharge was granted two months later. She never returned to Suriname.

Anna did some substitute teaching in Amsterdam while Leo was completing his seminary studies at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (after having studied 2 years in Switzerland at a Bible School and another 2 years in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at a Moravian Seminary). They got married on November 30, 1954, moved to Krimpen aan de Lek to pastor a church from 1955 to 1957, and then a chaplaincy year from 1957 to 1958. In Krimpen, their first 3 children were born in 1956, 1957 and 1958.

In July 1958, the family travelled 10 days by boat and then by a series of flights across Canada to Duncan, BC to serve at a CRC church there from 1958 to 1962. They moved to the Calgary Emmanual CRC to pastor there from 1962 to 1966, Wellandport, Ontario (1966 to 1970), St. Thomas, Ontario (1970 to 1975), Williamsburg, Ontario (1975 to 1980), Collingwood, Ontario (1980 to 1982); Springdale CRC in Holland Marsh( 1982 to 1992), and finally arrived in Medicine Hat on June 30, 1992 to pastor the Medicine Hat Christian Reformed Church.

Anna lived in Chinook Village for 27 years, then moved to Revera Meadowlands in September 2018 and spent her last year at Sunnyside Care Centre in Medicine Hat.

Anna is predeceased by a son, Neil, in June 1978; her first husband, Leonard T. Schalkwyk in April 1993 and her second husband, Abe Unger in December 2016 (whom she married in February 1996).

She is survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren: Rita Schalkwyk of Red Deer, AB and her family, Matthias (Kristy) of Crossfield, AB (Rory and Gavin), Hannah (Matt) of Red Deer, AB (Poppy, Hucksley, Milo); Hilary (Matt) of Smithers, BC (Salem, Gabriel, Hosanna, Ethan); Reuben (Lauren) of Red Deer, AB (Adelyn, Weston); Janelle (Brant) of Royal Leamington Spa, UK (Zephaniah, Thea); Micah (Robyn) of Red Deer, AB; Benji (Mandy) of Consecon, Ontario and Mitchell (Rebecca) of Drumheller, AB.; Len (Margaret) Schalkwyk of Denton, Texas; John Schalkwyk of Hamilton, Ontario and Cathie Schalkwyk of Lochem, the Netherlands (Robert, Jonathan).

Family wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation to friends and family for their sympathy, condolences, cards and flowers. A very special thanks to Ina Aasman and Alice Vis, who faithfully visited and assisted Mom in many ways from 2016 to 2025, after Abe passed away.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 - 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Saturday, January 10, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. with a committal service to follow. A Memorial Service will be held at Living Hope Church, 300 Primrose Drive S.E., Medicine Hat at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Kevin VanderVeen officiating.