Margaret Barkman

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MARGARET BARKMAN

In the evening hours of April 18, 2015, our loving Heavenly Father sent His angels to carry our sister Home. Margaret was born to Harold Goosen Barkman and Frances Mooney Barkman on June 12, 1944, in Steinbach. She, with her parents and family, made the Big Move from the Ridgewood School District one mile west into the Clearsprings School District when she was ten.

Margaret was educated in Ridgewood, Clearsprings and Steinbach. She spoke fondly of her two favorite teachers, Miss Brown and Miss Giesbrecht. She realized her dream of becoming a nurse, working in the Concordia and Misercordia Hospitals in Winnipeg; Bethesda Hospital and Maplewood Manor in Steinbach. She enjoyed nursing, and would keep us in stitches with stories from those days.

She loved to travel – Yellowstone, Kansas, Banff, Abbotsford, the Ozarks; far away to Haiti and Mexico; and many excursions to Toronto and Riding Mountain to visit family.

Margaret’s hobbies were simple – she loved watching birds and she loved watching people. She and her friend Audrey frequently went “birding” to Oak Hammock Marsh, Sandilands, and even the Steinbach Lagoon! And people, especially children, provided her with much joy. She took such glee in telling her stories that sometimes you could see their faces in hers! She was proud of her nieces and nephews and bragged about them continuously, adding her great-nieces and nephews to the list as they arrived.

Our father died when Margaret was nearly 11. She felt that loss keenly. Except for a few years while she nursed in Winnipeg, Margaret lived with our mother. When Mom passed away it was obvious Margaret missed her greatly.

A bad fall left her somewhat handicapped, yet she carried on as normally as she could. Several years later she suffered another fall which challenged her still further. Nine years ago she moved into the Maplewood Suites in Steinbach, where she lived until her passing.

Margaret sought forgiveness and found salvation at a young age. She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ. Several scriptures in her Bible were underlined and noted as “precious” and “comforting”.

As her family, we are very grateful for the wonderful medical care she received the last week of her life. The staff at Maplewood Manor went beyond the second mile in assisting her and the Steinbach EMS and the Bethesda Hospital Team were fantastic. Margaret was very grateful for, and humbled by, their care and compassion. We also thank you, the Steinbach congregation, for being her church family. She truly loved you all.

Those left to cherish her memory are her brothers and sister: Jim and Jackie, Lloyd and Jane, Kathy and Bruce; her nieces and nephews and their families: Kevin and Amanda, Eyvi, Louie; Trevor; Tanis and Doran; Jeff and Carol, Kelsey, Taylor, Brianna, Jamin; Lisa and Chad, Karlee, Levi; Russ and Rachelle, Leah, Abbey; Rick and Christa; aunts, cousins and many friends.

The viewing for Margaret Barkman will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 7:00 p.m at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 162 Hwy 52 W., Steinbach, MB. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, 280 Loewen Blvd., Steinbach, MB. The burial will take place at the Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 200 - 6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 0K6.

Arrangements by BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Apr 21, 2015