Ione Lois Anne Wanner

December 8, 1929 — April 27, 2024

Ione Lois-Anne Wanner (Waldal) of Saskatoon, left this world peacefully just after sunrise on Saturday, April 27, 2024 to join her beloved husband Roy, two of her sons in law, Robert Liesch and Kevin McCart, her mom and dad (Anna and Olaf Waldal), and fourteen of her fifteen siblings who passed before her. Ione has left behind her daughters Deborah Cooke from Saskatoon, Cathy McCart from Lethbridge, Lorrie Nevison and Brenda Wanner from the Fraser Valley, and Jane Liesch-Giles from Sylvan Lake, their partners Geoff Cooke, Tom Nevison, Doug Steil, and Byron Giles, twelve grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, her sister and brother in law Inis and Arthur Marcotte, and scores of nieces and nephews.

Ione was born into a large and loving family in Lake Alma, Sk. on December 8, 1929. She and her siblings remained very close for their entire lives, welcoming spouses and children over the decades and ensuring all of their families knew the love and comfort of belonging. First and foremost for Ione though, was her cherished mom, whose love and kindness sustained her throughout her life and helped shape Ione into the woman, sister, wife and mother she would become.

Ione married Roy Wanner on September 29, 1951, living in several small towns in southern Saskatchewan before moving with their ever-growing family to Estevan, and later to Lloydminster, Airdrie, and finally Brooks, Ab. Ione moved to Saskatoon after Roy's death in 2011 and continued to have a full and joyful life notwithstanding her Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2017.

Ione was a wonderfully bright and intelligent woman. She was a voracious reader of novels, news, and current events, and knew or could figure out the answer to any question about food, gardening, home remedies or how things worked. Ione was also a gifted artist and designer. She taught herself to sew when she was a child, and developed a meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of her craft which enabled her to sew clothing with or without a pattern, as neatly inside as out, to a standard that could not be matched off the rack. She was a wonderful cook, and a baker, and a gardener, and a MacGyver who could fix or build or repurpose almost anything. She loved to sing, to sew, to tinker, and to think.

Ione was the person you would choose to help you in an emergency. She was perceptive and decisive. Some have described her as "feisty" and if in so doing they were describing a woman of conviction and determination, character and integrity, she was all that. As a mother she was a person who led by example and with compassion, humour, and great good sense. As a grandmother she was a friend, a clown, a dancer, and an admirer. Ione was blessed with the laugh of a girl full of joy and delight for her entire life.

Ione was not equivocal in her defence of personal choices, rights, and freedoms. To honour Ione and to support one of her most passionate convictions, her daughters are making a meaningful contribution to Dying With Dignity Canada, and encourage anyone who knew and loved their mom to consider the same. Ione would be so gratified to have some influence in helping to secure this very basic and personal choice for those who wish it.

Arrangements are being handled by Cherished Memories Funeral Services & Crematory Inc. in Martensville, Sk., with a private commemoration to follow. A heartfelt acknowledgement must be made to the staff and in particular the care givers at Luther Special Care Home, Temperance Munroe Wing in Saskatoon, who provided Ione with yet another family to know and love. The compassion, care, and sense of humour shown while respecting and maintaining her dignity is deeply appreciated.

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Ione Lois Anne Wanner

December 8, 1929 — April 27, 2024

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