WANDA NEILL TOLBOOM

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WANDA NEILL TOLBOOM December 4, 1920 - September 4, 2007 It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Wanda Neill Tolboom on September 4, 2007, at the Victoria Hospital. A memorial service will be held at St. Peter's Anglican Church on 755 Elm Street at Grant Avenue on Monday, September 10, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Phil Barnett and Rev. Jim Wolf officiating. Wanda is survived by her husband of 61 years (Wulf); two daughters, Wendy (Gordon) MacKenzie and Patti (Tony) Zeglen; one son, Rev. Dr. Neill (Deb) Tolboom; four grandchildren, Andrew (Kelly) MacKenzie, Erin (Ian) Toogood, Ryan (Megan) Tolboom and David Zeglen; and two great-grandchildren, Aiden Gordon MacKenzie and Mackenzie Ava Toogood. She is also survived by her only brother, Keith (Ruth) Neill; and a very close friend and bridesmaid, Frederica Woodrow Knight. She was predeceased by her parents Isabel and John Neill who were pioneers in the town of Kelwood, Manitoba; and one infant sister, Vonda. Wanda was born and raised in Kelwood and was educated there. She attended Neepawa High School and received her teacher's training in the old Winnipeg Normal School. She taught school at Beaver Dam, Cartwright and Roskeen Schools. In 1946, she journeyed to the Canadian Arctic on the supply ship RMS Nascopie to marry Wulf who was a fur trader with the Hudson's Bay Company. They spent a wonderful five years, filled with adventure in the land of dog teams and igloos. Wanda spent some 30 years in the Winnipeg Hebrew Schools, teaching English, her love and specialty. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1978. In addition, she taught three summers on Antigua Island with the OCOD program and spent one summer attending university in Israel. In retirement, she continued teaching by volunteering at the Royal School in a reading assistance program. She was active in the program until her passing. Her love of English led to writing, and she was the author of six published books and many, many articles. Wanda had deep religious convictions and was not shy to express them. She attended Christ Church Anglican in River Heights from 1959 to its demise in 2005. She then transferred to St. Peter's Anglican Church. She was involved in many aspects of church life and taught Sunday School because she loved children and teaching. Her ashes will return to her birthplace in the lovely town of Kelwood on the east slopes of the Riding Mountains which she loved so much. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wanda's favourite charity, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 08, 2007