JOAN SMIKLES (MAKSIMCHUK)

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JOAN SMIKLES (MAKSIMCHUK) It is with very heavy hearts and extreme sadness that the family of Joan announce her passing away in the early afternoon of July 13, 2005. Joining hands in a circle of prayers, Mom passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Mom was born in Meleb, MB, on November 17, 1930. Left to cherish the memory of her beautiful life are her three children and their families. Gloria (Allan) Sigurdson, Larry Maksimchuk, and Donna (Tony) Bartecki. Grandchildren Nicole (Vince) Lathlin, Derek (Kendra) Sigurdson, Desta and Brent Bartecki and her great grandchildren Courtney and Halley. She is also survived by her husband Steve and his children Linda (Kent) Winning, Larry (Marilyn) Smikles, Wayne (Angela) Smikles and his grandchildren Mellissa, Alexis, Kyle, Layne, Brady, Riley, Natasha, Andrew and Nadia. Joan is also survived by her brother Eddie (Jackie) Kazmirowich and sisters Frances (Albert) Shek and Bernice Minarik and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Peter Maksimchuk (1977), her parents Mike and Caroline Kazmirowich, brothers Frank Kazmirowich and Mike Sowa and her sister Mary Bidochka. Mom worked at the Arborg Personal Care Home as the activity director, retiring in 1990. She enjoyed cooking, knitting, crocheting, canning and gardening. Anyone that visited never left her home hungry. Joan was devoted to the MPC Park, where she started the Perogie Making Committee and has passed this legacy on to her family and friends. Joan was very much involved in the St. Michael's Heritage Church. She volunteered as the secretary as well as with the restoration of the church religious statues especially the meticulous work on the Nativity Scene. All the thank-you's in the world would never be enough to express our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Beukes and the incredible nursing staff of the Arborg Hospital. Prayers will be held on Sunday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Chapel with Father Harry officiating. Funeral service will be held at the St. Michael's Heritage Church in Meleb on Monday, July 18 at 10:00 a.m. Father Art Seamens will officiate with interment in the Meleb cemetery. At her request, the Pallbearers will be her nieces Tracey Berch, Ellen Habercoff, Diane Gillis, Patty Keicher, Linda Bauman and Nancy Bechard. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Home, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 16, 2005