Obituary of Elsie Lillian Wilke

ELSIE LILLIAN WILKE It is with fond memories and sadness that the family of Elsie Lillian (Vennard) Wilke announce her passing on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at William Albert House in Emerald Park, SK. Elsie was born in Portage la Prairie, MB on July 11, 1918 to parents, John and Grace (Abbott) Vennard and raised on the family farm near Treherne, MB. She achieved a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Winnipeg in 1938. Elsie married Leonard Paul Wilke of Yellow Grass, SK on July 8, 1944 at her parent’s farm. Shortly thereafter, Len was transferred overseas to England by the RCAF during WWII. Upon Len’s return to Canada, they moved to a farm in Sherwood District, where they raised their five children. They moved to Regina in 1965 and to William Albert House in 2010. The family wish to thank the staff and caregivers of William Albert House for their kindness and special care given to mom. Elsie was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Norman, Raymond and Donald Vennard; nephew Alex Vennard; brothers and sisters-in-law Esther and Ed Altwasser, Margaret and Gordon Thompson, Delila and Walter Weind, Ed Meyer, Ed Niebergall and Ruth Wilke. She is survived by her loving husband Len; daughter Linda (Darol) Owens and their family: Barb (Shayne Hogeboom), Kaylee and Abby; Rob (Angela Carr) and his daughter Taylor Kell; Roger (Kenda), Kayce and Marley; son John (Linda) and their family: Ryan (Irene Francisco); Chelsea (Chris Molloy) and her son Jaeden Gessner; son Wendell and his son Raymond Desjarlais-Kish; son Reg (Elaine) and their family: Christopher (Ashley) Wilke; Cory Wilke; Chantelle (Michael) O’Donnell; and daughter Sheila (Darwin) Roske and their family: Jonathan, Alicia and Travis; sister-in-law Bea Henry; brother-in-law Herb (Florence) Wilke; sisters-in-law, Gladys Meyer and Phyllis Niebergall; close neighbour Rollie Claude and family; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A Service to Celebrate Elsie’s Life will be held at Wesley United Church, 3913 Hillsdale Street, Regina, SK on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Interment to follow at a later (warmer) date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elsie’s memory may be made to The Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund, Box 1130, Regina, SK, S4P 3B4 (please make cheques payable to Leader-Post Foundation-Christmas Cheer) or the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 2550 Broad Street, Regina, SK, S4P 3Z4. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com