Wanda Joyce Colpitts
(1930-2016)
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Wanda Joyce Colpitts on June 2, 2016 at Arcola Brock Union Hospital. She will be sadly missed by her life partner (Wilson Haines) and children: Kenneth (Sheila), Sheila (Bob) Haymore and Shawna (Doug) McLaughlin. Wanda will be fondly remembered by her seven grandchildren, Doug (Kristi MacDonald) and Tricia Colpitts, and Christopher (Bobbi Wolbaum), Michael (Cheyenne) and Jessica Haymore and Liam and Dani McLaughlin and her eight great-grandchildren (Karli, Tyler, Samantha and Hunter Colpitts, Kyra Cochrane, Sophie and Remi Haymore and Isabella Haymore). She will be missed by her sisters Marion Thompson and Ida Lupick and by her many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Leroy and Ella Statler, loving husband William Colpitts, her son Murray Colpitts and five brothers: Willard, Russell, Harvey, Gerald, Mervin and one sister Martha.
Wanda was born on September 26, 1930 to Leroy and Ella Statler. She was the 6th of 9 children. Six boys and three girls. They lived on a small farm 7 miles north of Manor.
Bill and Wanda were married on Nov 14th, 1947. Wanda was just 17 years old. But it was a great match that lasted over 55 years. Bill and Wanda moved to the Auberton area where Bill farmed. After Ken and Murray were getting to school age, they decided to move in to Carlyle for access to better schools. So they built the house on 6th Street in Carlyle and moved there in 1957. Bill continued to farm and Wanda was busy raising the kids. Sheila was born in 1960. Unfortunately Murray died from an accident in 1961. Shawna was the final addition to the family in 1964.
Wanda loved life. She had many good friends and enjoyed many activities. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary, an active member of the Happy Gang. She loved to dance and play cards. She loved her children, grandchildren and great children. She was a great knitter and sewer and quilter.
Most of the family have a hand-made legacy from her.
Wanda worked as a care aide at the Moose Mountain Lodge from the time it opened until she retired in about 1996.
Bill and Wanda owned a cabin at White Bear Lake for many years. Lots of fun. The kids learned to swim and ski. We would spend the summer up there until harvest started. Lots of bonfires, happy hours, cards on rainy days, great food and laughter.
Bill passed away in 2002 after a lengthy illness. After that Wanda was heartbroken and very lonely. After a while she started to go to dances with her friends.
In 2008 she met a handsome cowboy, Wilson Haines, who swept her off her feet.
After that they started attending lots of dances. They would load up a carful and head off to dances 3 or 4 times a week. I t was a sad day when she could no longer go. They also played lots of cards. Wanda kept playing after her eyesight was failing using extra large print cards and a bright lamp. She never wanted to miss out on anything.
We will remember Wanda as a loving and caring person. A life well lived. A celebration of Wanda’s life was held at the Carlyle United Church at 2:00 p.m. on Friday June 10 with Reverend Sung officiating.
