It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joanne Schiewe on Monday, August 29, 2016, a week and a half after her 36th birthday. Diagnosed in February 2015 with glioblastoma, a terminal brain cancer, Jo made the most of every day, surrounded by the love and incredible pride of her family and friends.
She is survived by her partner Jared Spier; parents Wilfred and Eveline; brother Brian and sister Karen Merrick (Wade); nephews Connor, Robert and Dawson and niece Chloe.
Joanne grew up in Morris, Manitoba and graduated from Morris School in 1998. Her feisty character may have caused a few headaches in her teens and some tough lessons through her twenties, but it also helped Joanne mature into a strong, beautiful woman, with a wonderful zest for life.
Jo had a passion for helping people, so decided to pursue a career in Human Resources, and took much pride in her chosen profession. She also started running and it wasn’t long before she was completing marathons. Eventually she branched out into adventure racing and triathlon, conquering Ironman Boulder in August 2014.
Whatever she did and wherever she went, from childhood to adulthood, one thing remained constant – if you were Jo’s friend, you remained Jo’s friend. The enduring connections Joanne forged throughout her journey were incredibly meaningful and especially valuable to her. Whether as a friend, co-worker, training partner, coach or just ‘that girl I met’, Joanne inspired countless people with her energy, passion and wacky sense of humour.
After her diagnosis, the response and support from Joanne’s vast network of friends was outstanding. Hundreds upon hundreds of people, from Manitoba and beyond, got behind Jo and supported her efforts to raise awareness and funds for Brain Cancer research and treatment. To date, Joanne has raised over $80,000… and her legacy is one we will all work to continue.
A service to celebrate Joanne’s life will be held on Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00 pm at Soul Sanctuary, 2050 Chevrier Boulevard in Winnipeg.
Her family and friends would like to offer their heart-felt thanks to Dr. Marshall Pitz and his team at CancerCare Manitoba, and all of the healthcare providers that cared for Jo during her illness.
In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to show their appreciation of Joanne is encouraged to add to her legacy via donation to Canadian Cancer Society at 193 Sherbrook St, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7 or www.cancer.ca. All donations made “in memory of Joanne” will be doubled!
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