Alice Barkman

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ALICE WOHLGEMUTH BARKMAN
Dec. 10, 1929-Feb. 21, 2016

Alice Eva Wohlgemuth Barkman was born to John P. and Martha Wiebe Wohlgemuth in the Rural Municipality of Ste Anne, MB on Dec. 10, 1929. She left this life for a better one on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016 at the hospital in Steinbach, MB. She reached the age of 86 years. Her death was caused by heart failure.

She gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Minister Reuben Koehn on Dec. 12, 1943.

Her childhood years were spent on the family dairy farm along the Clear Springs Road, north of Steinbach. She found great pleasure in working and singing with her six brothers and four sisters. They were a tall family, and Mom said they were sometimes referred to as ‘The House of the Giants.’

When she was 18 she spent some time working in a peach cannery in St Catharines, ON. Later on Mom spent six months working in Winnipeg at the Ravenscourt Boys School.

She found her life’s companion in Stanley Barkman of Greenland, MB. They were married Oct. 12, 1952 by Dad’s oldest brother, Alfred, sharing 63 precious years. They were blessed with three boys and then five daughters. They lived in Greenland 12 years. In 1964, they moved to the farm at Grandview, MB. The Grandview people grew very dear to them.

Mom put her home and family first in her life. A very patient teacher, she endeavoured to make work enjoyable for her children and grandchildren. She taught us new songs while shelling peas or picking raspberries and often sang as we washed dishes. The kitchen window was often graced with an open songbook. Mom was not an extravagant cook, but her meals were always delicious. Soup was one of her specialties, and her homemade buns were unsurpassed. She was a natural seamstress and we have all been blessed by her expertise.

She was a gracious woman who had the gift of putting people at ease. Because of her unselfishness she had the time to listen and was always ready to help and encourage us. She was not one to speak negatively about anyone and accented the positive in life. No, she was not perfect, but what a wonderful example she was to us in so many ways. Mother broke her hip in 2002 and was never free from pain again, but she kept a thankful spirit and did not often complain.

They purchased their retirement house and lived in the town of Grandview for three short years. In 2007, they moved to the Maplewood Suites where together they kept house. Here she had the privilege of living near her siblings, also enjoying the folks down the hall. We as a family appreciate her acceptance of life with its changes and difficulties. We love to think of her in heaven, where there is no pain.

Those left to cherish her memories are her husband, Stanley, of 63 years; her children, Robert and Liz, Grifton of NC, Glen of Gilbert Plains, MB, Shirley of Gilbert Plains, MB, Cameron and Rhonda of Bow Island, AB, Chrystal and Bentley Penner of Bow Island, AB, Karen and Galin Dueck of Ste Anne, MB, Kathleen and Laurel Warkentin of Pincher Creek, AB, Ardith and Bruce Penner of Grandview, MB, and Gayle and Marc Toews of Roxton Falls, QC; 30 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; siblings, Winston (Emily) Wohlgemuth, Eddie Wohlgemuth, Mildred Penner, all of Steinbach, MB, Olive (Jim) Toews of Iroquois, SD, Katherine (Johnny) Warkentin of Dalhart, TX, Norman (Darlene) Wohlgemuth of Bredenbury, SK, Frances Goossen of Grandview, MB; sisters-in-law, Libby Wohlgemuth of Oak Lake, MB, and Elizabeth Barkman of Steinbach, MB.

Preceding her in death were her parents, three brothers, six brothers-in-law and seven sisters-in-law.

As published in The Carillon on Feb 24, 2016