Edaline WALKER

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WALKER: Peacefully, with her family by her side, Edaline Leona “Lee” Walker passed away at 12:26 a.m. on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, at the age of 76 years. Born May 12, 1936 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, she was the only daughter of Willemtje (Hogeweide) and Edwin Fjeld. She was raised in the Weldon/Birch Hills area in Saskatchewan. Lee met the love of her life, Henry “Hank” Walker in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, in September 1953, and they were married in Picton, Ontario on February 5, 1954. She embraced all of Hank’s brothers and sisters as her own; and so grew her love of “family”. Lee was a military wife for 31 years; starting with her marriage to Hank in 1954 in Picton, Ontario and ending with his retirement in 1985 in CFB Shilo, Manitoba. Together they had three children – Randy, born January 1955 in Picton, ON; Terry, born February 1959 in Germany; and Leanne, born January 1968 in Brandon, MB. As a military wife, Lee learned to love to travel all over the world; Picton, ON from 1954-1957; Winnipeg, MB from 1957-1958; Hemer, West Germany from 1958-1960 (leaving Canada by ship with Randy (3 years) in 1958 to join Hank in Germany, and returning to Canada by ship with Randy (5 years), Terry (1 year) and Hank); CFB Gagetown, NB from 1960-1962; CFB Shilo from 1962-1970; CFB Gagetown again from 1970-1971; and Lahr, West Germany from 1971-1975. In 1975, they returned once again to CFB Shilo where they remained until Hank’s retirement from the Military in 1985, at which time they settled in Brandon. Lee was a stay-at-home wife and mother for the first 19 years of her marriage. She then began a successful retail/administration career; starting in 1973 for the Canex, Lahr Exchange, in Germany; and in 1975 in CFB Shilo for the Base Exchange/Non-Public Funds, until her retirement in 1989. Lee had a great love for knitting (which she began at the age of 4 years old), so it was rare to see her without a set of knitting needles in her hands. She and Hank loved to garden (both vegetables and flowers); and they spent quite a bit of time travelling to visit family in Saskatchewan; and all the way to the West Coast to visit their son, Terry, and his family. Lee’s health progressively declined over the last 4 ? years, slowly robbing her of her independence. But through it all, she always maintained a “fighting spirit”, smiling and joking; showing us all her amazing strength, and always taking it “One Day At A Time”. We take great comfort in knowing that she no longer has to endure these major daily struggles and challenges; she no longer suffers… she is finally at peace. Lee was predeceased by her mother, Willemtje Fjeld in 1949; her father, Edwin Fjeld in 1967; and her half-brother Joseph Dufak in 1980. Lee leaves to mourn her passing – her beloved husband of 59 years, Hank; her three children: Randy (Kim), Terry (Roberta) and Leanne (Harry); her six grandchildren: Melissa (Marc), Sean, Sara, Dale, Dayna (Mike), and Taylor; and two great-grandchildren: Mackenzie Walker and Christian Shymko. Cremation has taken place. A Ceremony to Celebrate Lee’s Life will take place at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Jim Brown will officiate. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Jennifer Tarr, Lois Evans, Kay McLean, and Frank and Marilyn Hambrook. If friends and family so desire, donations in memory of Lee may be made to the Manitoba Lung Association, 8-940 Princess Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 0P6; or The Heart and Stroke Foundation, Unit 3, 824-18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5B7. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.comArrangements withMemories Chapel &Pre-Planning Centre, 204-727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 23, 2013