LAURIEANNE LYNNE

July 22, 1955 - June 10, 2016

 

It is with sadness and sorrow that I share the passing of my best friend and my beautiful wife and partner, Laurieanne Lynne, on Friday, June 10, 2016 at St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, losing her fight with PSP.

She is survived by her loving husband and caregiver, Marv Wickstrom; her brother John Gruber (Lise) of Orleans ON, her sister and other best friend Marilyn Johnson (Alan) of Nanoose Bay BC; and her sister Marlana (Maryanne) Rosen of Calgary; sister-in-laws Mavis Wickstrom-Peebles (Fred), Maureen Wickstrom (Ken), Maria Wickstrom (Vince) of PEI,; nephew Michel Gruber of Ottawa, niece Marnie Gruber of Weyburn SK, and her very special step daughter Kara Wickstrom Street (Scott), and our two grandchildren, Zack and Rowyn (“she is such a nice little girl”). Many other relatives too numerous to mention. She was predeceased by her parents John and Mary (Lech) Gruber, and her brother Al Gruber.

Laurieanne was born in Gravelbourg SK, July 22, 1955, raised on a farm in the Glen Bain SK area. After high school, she left the area, first to Moose Jaw and then to Regina. After deciding that this wasn’t for her, she headed to Calgary, where she lived from 1974 to 2011. After a number of various positions in drilling and operations, she joined the Public Affairs/Communications Department of Shell Canada/Royal Dutch Shell where she had a very successful 24 year career working in Community Affairs, Oil Sands, Sustainable Development, as a Communications Specialist. She was always appreciative of what her years at Shell did for her in achieving her lifes’ goals….…….. travel; live in a downtown loft in Calgary (Imperial Lofts); retire young so she could enjoy it (2011, at 56, with full pension!); live in Mexico for 6 months a year – accomplished since 2011, including being able to mostly enjoy 5 months there this winter. Retirement also meant a move to Winnipeg for the other six months a year. Introduced to her by her husband, she fell in love with the city, and the extended family of her husband, including once again, a loft! (Ashdown Warehouse). She enjoyed walking, cycling along the rivers, the historical buildings,  the beauty of the river bank, and her special place along the river at the end of Bannatyne Avenue.

She was a passionate foodie, enjoyed travel with trips to Southeast Asia, Bali, Morocco, Greece, Israel, most of Europe,  throughout Mexico including climbing both the Temple of the Sun and the Moon at Teotihuacan ………some with her sister, some with friends, many with her husband. She truly enjoyed the people of Mexico and her many special friends in the PV area, and at Mismaloya.

She had the most wonderful smile, the brightest blue eyes, and the biggest heart for those she cared about. She will be missed.

Special thanks to the Emergency Room doctors and staff, and to the staff in Palliative care… her stay was short but her interests were tended to by a supportive and considerate group of people. I would like to express my thanks to DR. M. Modirrousta and the staff at the Neuromodulation Unit for guiding us through this little known and evil disease.

Laurieannes’ wishes were simple….. a small memorial service with wine for her friends and family, no fuss, and a final return to Mexico this fall where she will rejoin the world she loved so much.

 

So, you are invited to join us at 2:30pm, Monday June 13, 2016, Steven Juba Park, at the Bannatyne Avenue/Waterfront Drive roundabout, for a short service, followed by a celebration for Laurieanne at our home, at the Ashdown Warehouse.