Joan was born, along with her twin brother, Jack, in Dodsland, SK, to Sandy and Gladys Wenzel. Her early years were spent in the Kelfield and Compeer areas.
After completing high school, Joan went on to attend Teachers College and began her many years of being “Teacher”. Starting as a student teacher for the one room school of Warcop in the RM of Hearts Hill. Her adventures took her to teaching in Granville, Yukon a gold dredge community where she married and began her family. The family had opportunity to live in Colombia, South America for 2 years, an adventure that resulted in many family stories and keepsakes. Returning to Canada in 1966, they settled on a farm at Major, SK to raise the family and she resumed teaching. Joan upgraded her education at the University of Saskatchewan, and spent many years teaching the Major School Kindergarten class. She enjoyed teaching the little ones at her kindergarten room in the old brick school, one of whom still sent her a Christmas card every year.
Joan had many interests: she enjoyed “bonspiel season”, many hours spent at Major Rink alongside the rest of the community. She grew a large garden each year, with a row of raspberry bushes to pick that seemed endless to the kid doing the picking. Joan enjoyed crafts with the kindergarteners and at home, sewing, quilting, Christmas jigsaws, and all things “owl”.
Joan moved to Saskatoon in 1996, where she resided until her passing. She enjoyed playing cards, driving her power wheelchair where she wanted, Fringe Festival, Folk Festival or to the mall. She also liked her TV programs and computer games.
Surviving her are her 3 children, daughters Kim (Todd), Geri (Stewart) and son Kelly (Sila). Joan has 4 grandchildren Brittany, Carly, Austin and Isabella; plus 3 great-grandchildren: Noah, Emma, and Lochlan. She also leaves her sister Shirley Schmalzbauer, numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and caregiver extraordinaire, Gayanne Moore.
She was predeceased by her parents and her 5 brothers, Gordon, Jim, Darrell, Harold and her twin Jack.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation if you so wish; she did not miss a year of watching Telemiracle.
As per Joan’s wishes, a private graveside service for her immediate family will take place at a later date.
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