ALICE EMILY KIONKE

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ALICE EMILY KIONKE (nee Bullee) Peacefully, on January 4, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer, Alice passed away at the age of 61 years. Alice was born on January 20, 1944. She grew up in St. Vital, where her father co-owned Norberry Garage. She graduated from Glenlawn Collegiate and later worked at the Canadian Wheat Board. Alice married Vern in 1964. In 1967, they moved to the Cook's Creek area, where they built a house and eventually began farming. In 1974, they adopted a baby girl and, seven months later, Alice gave birth to another baby girl. She often said that she felt so blessed to have her two girls. Alice started volunteering at Oakbank Elementary School in the early 1980s and was soon employed there as a paraprofessional. While raising a family, farming and working, she also began taking courses to become an elementary school teacher. Her family was very proud when she graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1990. Alice's first teaching job was at Ridgeland Colony. Teaching multiple grades was a challenging experience, but it was made easier by the kindness and generosity of the Hutterite families. Alice developed many friendships there, which she kept long after moving on to a new teaching position. Alice retired in June 2004 after spending the latter half of her career at Bernie Wolfe Community School. There, too, she made many close friends. The year and a half since her retirement was spent largely with her family as well as her second family , the Dueck's. She was overjoyed when her own family finally expanded with the birth of her first grandchild, Noah, in July 2005. Though she only had a short time with him, she cherished every moment. Noah adored his Grandma Alice. While Alice was not much of a traveler, she was forced to embark on many adventures when her daughter, Cathy, moved to Delaware. Alice, along with her other daughter, Nancy, and son-in-law, Jerret, would head south every summer to see Cathy. From their home base in Delaware, they made trips to New York City, NY; Boston, MA; Gatlinburg, TN and Washington, D.C., just to name a few. Alice grew to enjoy her summer travel experiences and even added an extra trip to visit relatives in B.C. in 2002. Friends were very important to Alice - and she had some of the best: Donna and Dennis, Kay and John, Pam and Gord, Pat and Colin, and Lorraine. Pete was also a very special friend who became a part of the family. Alice is survived by her daughters, Cathy and Nancy (Jerret); grandson Noah; sister Joanne (Gord); and niece Cory (Darren); as well as her brother-in-law Otto (Anita). She was predeceased by her husband, Vern, in 1996. Funeral service will be held on Monday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Oakbank Baptist Church with Pastor Mark deKluyver officiating. A private interment with the immediate family will take place before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in Alice's memory. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 07, 2006