Date of Birth: October 1, 1938
Date of Death: August 27, 2020
Marian Alice Walz of Melville, wife of the late Gordon Walz, entered her eternal rest Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 at the age of 81 following a courageous battle with cancer.
Marian was born Oct. 1, 1938 on the family farm north of Churchbridge, to Margaret (nee Fraser) and Robert Basken.
She received her education in Churchbridge (up to Grade 8) before moving to Regina with Gordon where she worked for SaskTel as a telephone operator. Their oldest daughter Shelley was born in Regina, in 1960, before they moved back to Churchbridge where their second daughter Sharon was born. She continued working as a telephone operator in the Churchbridge office for several years. They moved to Langenburg in 1963 where their family continued to grow with their first son, Dwayne, and another daughter, Shirley were born. Their youngest, Wade, was born in 1968.
Marian worked at a local grocery store for several years before setting into a career at the Langenburg Union Hospital. She started in the housekeeping department in 1973 working her way up to department head at the time of her retirement in 1993 when the government closed the hospital. She had the opportunity to commute to Yorkton but chose early retirement instead.
Marian joined the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Langenburg where the couple was married and became active with the local Catholic Women’s League (CWL) for many years. She also spent many years, alongside Gordon and all five children, volunteering with the Langenburg Air Cadet Squadron. There, too, she started in a small role and worked up to commanding officer of the squadron. Her retirement years were spent golfing and helping organize and work at Music for MS – a local fundraiser held in the Stockholm area.
In her spare time she enjoyed playing cards, knitting, crocheting, playing bingo, dancing, golfing, fishing, and even bowling and curling in her younger years. She also enjoyed spending time with her six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. When the kids were growing up she always found time to help with whatever activity they were involved in and never waivered to help when a question required an answer or a school project needed finishing.
Her and Gordon were married 51 years at the time of his passing in 2011, also from cancer. It was a tough adjustment for her to be alone but she found comfort and friendship with her coffee row gang in Melville before her own battle with cancer began and slowed her down. At the time of her passing she was a resident at St. Paul Lutheran Home, Melville.
Marian was predeceased by her husband Gordon (in 2011), brother Cliff (in 2000), her parents, Robert (in 1986) and Margaret (in 1987), as well as her mother and father-in-law Betty and Alfred Walz, brothers-in-law Leroy Walz and Joe DeCorby and sisters-in-law Leora Walz, Inez DeCorby, and Rosemarie Walz.
She is survived by her children: Shelley (Garry) Jordan and their daughters (Melinda and Tiffany and their children), Sharon (Albert) McNeil and their children (Logan and Amber and their children), Dwayne, Shirley and her children (Amanda and Christopher and their children) and Wade (Michelle), her brother Reg and his children (Kevin and Colleen and their spouses and children), her sister Dorothy (Bob) McRae and their daughters (Marnie and Carene and their spouses and children), brother-in-law Earl Walz and his daughters (Rhonda and Candice and their spouses and children) as well as numerous other relatives.
A public viewing was held Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Braendle-Bruce Funeral Home, Esterhazy with a public graveside funeral service held Thursday, Sept. 3 at Langenburg Catholic Cemetery in the family plot alongside Gordon.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Braendle-Bruce Funeral Service, Russell, Man.
