KIMBERLEY DAWN SPELMER

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KIMBERLEY DAWN SPELMER 1962 - 2010 Suddenly on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at her home in Mount Forest, ON. Kim was the beloved daughter of Bill and Lorraine Spelmer, dear sister to Jason and his wife Elaine, cherished aunt of Lauren, Chloe and Ava, loving granddaughter of Anne Spelmer and dear niece to Joanne and Jack Macey and Rodger and Jo-Ann Spelmer. She is also survived by six cousins and her special family in the dog community. Kim worked for Philips Electronics for 20 years, first in Winnipeg then Cambridge, ON after which she embarked on a new career which fed her passion for the dog world. She formed Shireoak Kennels and began breeding and showing Irish Red and White Setters and Blue Picardy Spaniels, both of which were considered rare breeds . Two highlights of Kim's career within the dog breeding community involved her work, along with Gail Harrison, in promoting the Irish Red and White Setters to full Canadian Kennel Club recognition. Kim also bred the first two Red and Whites ever to compete in the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in New York; Eamon won Best of Breed while his brother Aiden won an Award of Merit . Kim will be missed by everyone she touched; while we're heartbroken that she's gone, it's tempered somewhat knowing that she lived her dream, albeit far too briefly. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Humane Society in Kim's name would be sincerely appreciated.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 02, 2010