Joan Wilkie

Mrs. Joan Stewart Wilkie, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 5, 2013, at St. Paul’s Personal Care Home in The Pas, Manitoba, at the age of 92 years. Joan was the oldest daughter of Charles Duncan Stewart Appleton and Fanny Appleton (nee Haden) of Lancashire, England. She was born on Friday, March 25, 1921, at her home in Salford, which is close to Manchester. Joan enlisted in the ATS when war was declared and served until 1943. During an air fight while driving a military vehicle, she was injured and suffered back pain for most of her life. April 14, 1943 she married her husband, James Gordon Wilkie, who was serving with the British Navy and they were blessed with two daughters, Pauline and Alison. While in England, she was very close to family, and leaving England was difficult for her. Her belief that a woman supported her husband, and belonged beside him, brought her to Canada, where she began to create a home in this new country. Working in England for only a short time before the War, she knew she loved working in Accounting. Joan began to work as an accountant at a small factory in Newfoundland, where her husband, an engineer, first found employment. She immediately began to take advantage of programs to advance her education. In time, this lead to positions in Ontario with Household Finance, and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Joan and her husband, moved to Lynn Lake, Manitoba, and Joan discovered a love for the North. She moved happily to a senior accounting position with Calm Air. She finished her ongoing education, and was fully qualified for a position that became vacant, Secretary Treasurer of the School District of Lynn Lake. At that time, the school served a large number of students. She loved this position, and a visit to her office would always find her with reading glasses on, pouring over budget sheets, and making notes for the next Board meeting! They moved to The Pas, after retirement in 1990, and chose The Pas, as a place they liked. Both liked the trees planted along the streets which reminded them of England. As her husband became ill, and could no longer live at home, Joan visited him every day, and filled the hours caring for him. Whenever Joan had spare time, her hands were busy with knitting projects, baking and decorating cakes, crochet, embroidery, and making beautiful beaded flowers; in season, gardening filled her hours with pleasure. There were always books around, and especially those that incorporated Scottish History. Joan was proud of her Scottish heritage, her links to the Stewart Clan, and also the proud military history of the family. Joan was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and spoke happily of the membership, and fellowship, she and her husband shared there. Joan was predeceased by her husband, James Gordon Wilkie, on July 26, 2002; and her grandson Ben in 2012. Joan is survived by her two daughters Pauline (Oliver) Bignell, and Alison (Ron) Horst; grandchildren Clifford Bignell, Anita Bignell (Colin Partridge) and Daniel Bignell (Nikki Harris), Brenda Law (Karen), Bryan Horst, (Annette), Ron Horst (Tanya Maloney), Mark Horst (Selina); great grandchildren Meryl Partridge, Hayley Bignell-Partridge and Julianna Bignell, Alexander James Bignell, Jamie Nicole Bignell, Jack Horst, Travis Horst, Bryson Horst, Marison Horst, Alishea Law, Sarah Law, Aries Horst, Curtis Horst; great, great grandchildren Hailey Law, Ella Lea Law. She is also survived by her special nieces and nephew in England, Geraldine, Brenda, Linda (nee Cook), Alwyn, and Laing (nee Simpkin). A Service of remembrance was held Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Chapel of Hemauer Funeral Home, The Pas, Manitoba with Rev. Michael Dickens presiding. Music Ministry: Rochelle Rydberg. Memories of the heart: Jennifer Olinyk. If friends so desire, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0S6, would be appreciated by Joan’s family.