Erika Makowe

Erika was born on June 22, 1943, in Samter, Germany. She left Germany with her family in 1953 to come to Canada during war, where she grew up with her parents and four of her sisters in Winnipeg. She then married and had three children, Angela, Peter and Steven. She dedicated herself to homemaking for many years, then in 1979 decided to move to Kelowna, where she relocated with her husband and children.

There again she spent many years caring for her family at home. Eventually she became a single parent after splitting up with her first husband. Erika had a few jobs she really enjoyed such as working at the ball field in the concession stand, also volunteering for the police at their call centre, but her longest job was at Walmart where she worked for thirty-five plus years. She had many stories to tell of the antics that went on behind the courtesy desk. She later met and eventually moved in with her husband Victor. They were together for forty plus years.

Erika had a great sense of humor, she loved to go dancing in her younger years and she also loved to bake, with strawberry short cake, plum cake and torten as her signature dishes. She could be described as a firm, but fair and loving mother. In her later years she enjoyed sharing many outings with her family, especially with Victor, Irmgard and Gerhard. She kept busy working a couple of days a week at Walmart up until November 2024 when she retired. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, where she volunteered for the church’s food program, preparing soup and sandwiches for the Gospel Mission. Camping with her family was also something she enjoyed.

Erika is predeceased by her two sisters Marie and Martha. Survived by her three sisters Alice, Irmgard (Gerhard) and Edeltraut, her husband Victor, her three children Angela, Peter (Cindy), Steven (Krissy), her three grandchildren Taylor, Brandon and Samantha, along with many nieces and nephews. She also was surrounded by a large group of supportive friends.

A gathering will be held on June 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 2850 Dry Valley Road, Kelowna, BC. Donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 2091 Gordon Drive, Kelowna, BC V1Y3J2.