SHERYL ANN JANINE

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SHERYL ANN JANINE MacDONALD 1939 - 2003 It is with great sadness that the family of Sheryl Ann Janine MacDonald announces her passing on Wednesday, August 13, 2003. Sheryl is survived by her companion Donald Taylor; her daughters, Krista (Andrew Bos), Kelly of Toronto; grandchildren, Macbryan and Alexandria Bos; sisters, Rosemarie Myrdal of Edinburg, ND, Gail Smith of Portland, OR; and sisters-in-law Bonnie Lohse of Fargo, ND, Susan Lohse of Portsmouth, NH. Many nieces and nephews and their families will also miss their very special aunt. She was predeceased by her husband Robert Bryan MacDonald in 1988; parents, Harry and Olga Lohse; and two brothers, Carleton and Harry Lohse. Sheryl was born in Minot, ND on March 19, 1939 and attended school in Fargo, ND. She attended North Dakota State University in Fargo and earned a degree in education from the University of Saskatchewan in Regina. She married Bob in 1959 and they moved to Winnipeg to follow Bobs professional football career that subsequently took them to Regina. The family resided there until their return to Winnipeg in 1970. Sheryls career in teaching began in Regina and continued in Winnipeg in the St. Vital and Fort Garry School Divisions. Her time in teaching was very special to her and she remembered with great fondness many of her fellow teachers and students, even in the last few weeks when she had an opportunity to reconnect again with several former students. Sheryls sense of adventure and entrepreneurial spirit led her to enter the travel business. She began her career at Assiniboine Travel and then one year later, in 1977, Encore Travel Ltd. opened. Sheryl, together with her daughter Krista MacDonald Bos operated a very successful independent travel agency until early this year when Encore joined with Continental Travel. Sheryl made a tremendous contribution to the travel industry in Manitoba and in Canada through her involvement in the Alliance of Canadian Travel Associations (ACTA). She served as Education Committee Chair provincially and nationally, and then as President of ACTA Manitoba and ACTA Canada,1986 - 1987. A very capable leader in a time of change, Sheryl and her Boards of Directors worked hard to create strong, respectful working relationships between all industry components. In 1988, Sheryl was honoured with the YM/YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Business. As a founding Board member and two-term President 1989 and 1990 of Tourism Winnipeg, Sheryl also energetically promoted her chosen community, Winnipeg. Sheryl had great regard for the wonderful individuals who worked with her on the Executives and Boards of Tourism Winnipeg. Sheryls contribution to the community continued when the Government of Canada named her a Director of the Forks Corporation. She also served on the Board of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, as a Director for the Health Science Centre Foundation, the Board of the Winnipeg Convention Centre and on the Board of Centra Gas. Family was very important to Sheryl and she took great pride in the accomplishments of her daughters - Krista MacDonald Bos, partner in Encore Travel and Dr. Kelly MacDonald, a physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and holder of an endowed Chair in HIV Research at the University of Toronto. Sheryl loved to travel and appreciated the opportunity to see new places, experience new customs and meet new people. She made many friends wherever she went. Time spent at the summer home at Kenora was also very dear to Sheryl. She loved the gardens, the fabulous and ever changing view of the lake and the quiet, peacefulness that she felt there. Sheryl appreciated the beauty of art, of music and of her environment. With expert flair she would create exactly the right atmosphere in her home, workplace or even hotel room. Her unique style and graciousness made her a wonderful host, leader, companion and friend. Thank you to the many friends who brightened Sheryls days with the wonderful cards, notes, calls and flowers. She so appreciated your thoughtfulness. Sheryl loved music and appreciated how her Mennonite friends celebrated their faith with music and a straightforward expression of their Christian values. A memorial service for Sheryl will be held at the First Mennonite Church at 922 Notre Dame Ave. on Monday, August 18 at 1:00 p.m. Flowers are gratefully declined. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in memory of Sheryl to the Canadian Aids Research Foundation, (CANFAR) 165 University Ave., Suite 901, Toronto, ON, M5H 3B8, 1-800-563-2873 or to the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, 55 Pavilion Cresc., Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N6, 204-888-5466. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2003