JOAN DUNLOP

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JOAN DUNLOP November 2, 1943 August 16, 2011 Peacefully, with her loving husband of 47 years, Sonny, holding her hand Joan (67) passed away at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary, after a courageous battle with Leukemia. Besides her husband, Joan (Mom) is survived by her son Darin (Belinda) and their three children Rebecca, Kirsten and Connor of Strathmore, AB, her daughter Dawn (Mark) and their three sons Tom, Jack and Mitchell of Salmon Arm, BC, her Mother Paula (Nanny) and two brothers Carl and Wayne. Mom was predeceased by her Father Ozzie Fisher. Mom was born on a farm east of Winnipeg in Hazelridge, MB, and this is where she met her husband and partner for life, Sonny (Dad). Their early years together were spent going to ball tournaments to watch Dad play. Mom graduated from teachers college in 1963 and married Dad in 1964. She taught school (grade one) until 1967, when she took 10 years off to raise us (Darin and Dawn). In 1973 Mom and Dad bought the farm in Lockport, MB, where they farmed grain and cattle for the next 24 years. In 1977 Mom resumed teaching grade one at St. Andrews School. At the same time she went back to University part-time and earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Winnipeg. Teaching was a passion for Mom and there were many nights we listened to Mom tell her grade one stories at the dinner table for what seemed like hours. Mom and Dad sold the farm in 1997 and built their dream house, near the Red River in Lockport, MB. In 2000, Mom retired after 26 years of teaching. The next few years were spent living the retired life going on trips (cruises), camping, and skiing, with their group of friends, the butter-brickle gang. Mom was the consummate Mom and spent a lot of her time in the kitchen, whether it was getting lunches ready for us in the field, making Sunday supper, including raisin pie for her Dad, or just baking. Although she spent a lot of her time in the kitchen, she always found time to attend all of our hockey, figure skating and baseball events, usually with a lot of our friends in tow. In 2006, Mom and Dad moved out to Strathmore, AB, Mom quickly developed a very close and special group of friends in Strathmore. Mom spent the last five years with us and our families doing what she, and we, loved; whether it was, reading to the grandkids, watching them in sports, or baking with them to fill Grandma's Cookie Jar. These last five years were precious to Mom, Dad and us, and in particular, the last four months of Mom's life were very special as it provided Mom, Dad, us and the grandkids the time to express feelings and thoughts that needed to be expressed. Mom will be dearly missed, and not a day will go by, that we won't remember her strength, special qualities, gentleness and the love we had for Joan, Cootie, Mom and Grandma. Our family would like to thank the Hematology staff at the Peter Lougheed hospital in particular Dr. Lategan, for their wonderful care. A memorial service will be held at Little Britain United Church, 5879 Highway #9, Lockport, MB, on Sunday, August 28 at 2:00 p.m. Please forward your condolences via: condolences@wheatlandfuneralhome.com Contributions on behalf of Mom can be made directly to the Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen c/o Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Box 448, Selkirk, MB R1A 2B3.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 27, 2011