Obituary of Ann Scheer

Surrounded by her family’s love, Ann Scheer passed away peacefully at the age of 83 in the quiet hours just before dawn on February 3, 2022 - what would have been her beloved husband John’s 95^th birthday. The past year without John was a difficult one for Ann as she tried her best to face many health challenges with her renowned strong-minded determination, but the loss of her cherished husband and best friend was ultimately too great to bear. As the new year approached, it was clear that she had set her mind to finishing her important work as she seemed to know that she would soon be reunited with John. It is a great comfort to her family and friends that she was ready and at peace when she passed. And everyone who knew her will agree -- there is no other force as when Ann set her mind to something.

 

Ann will be forever remembered and dearly missed by her daughters Nancy (Norm), Jill (Brad), Beth (Rod) and Becky (Gord), and her treasured grandchildren Carter, McKenzie, Hayley, Jenna (Graydon), Jack, Bennett and Megan. Ann will also be deeply missed by her extended family members and her many dear friends.

 

Ann was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta to her cherished parents Art and Dorothy Atkinson and raised in High River along with her younger brother and best playmate, Bob. Times were hard growing up during the Great Depression era and World War II but despite a relatively meagre upbringing, Ann often recalled “we never knew we were poor”. She would beam when remembering her idyllic childhood of playhouses, campfires, and many antics with Bob and her cousins Jack Worth and Billy Bishop. In spite of any hardship, Ann’s upbringing instilled in her a life-long example of how to be hardworking and tough, but also generous, kind-hearted and playful.

 

From an early age, Ann knew that she wanted to be a teacher. She was inspired by her own mother’s career as a teacher and the many wonderful teachers (and a few not so wonderful teachers) that she had in school who showed her “how a teacher should be”. After high school, Ann attended university in Calgary, Edmonton and UBC where she would earn her teaching degree and meet some kindred spirits who would remain some of her best friends for the rest of her life.

 

Her first job as a teacher brought her to the small farming community of Strathmore in 1958. It was not long until she had become part of the fabric of the community, making many good friends and meeting a handsome young bachelor named John Scheer.

 

John and Ann were married on August 4, 1962 at the United Church in Strathmore followed by a reception supper at the Legion Memorial Hall. They lived in town for a year while Ann continued to teach, and in 1963 they moved to begin their life on the farm. For the next forty years – “the best years of our lives” - they lived happily raising their four daughters on the family farm by the side of the road.

 

In 2003 they moved back into Strathmore and enjoyed a wonderful retirement. Ann loved golf, wheat weaving, and spent a great deal of time researching a thorough family history on the Scheer and Atkinson family trees.

 

Among her proudest accomplishments was “living long enough to be a FUN Gramma.” She met that achievement through the countless hours she enjoyed with her grandkids by reading stories, playing games of croquinole, checkers, hide and go seek, having chocolate chip waffles and ice cream floats, dressing up at Halloween, and hosting many dinners and parties.

 

Throughout her life, Ann was an example of facing your fears and challenging yourself. As a teen she insisted on earning a driver’s licence, with her mother’s urging, even though that wasn’t seen as “appropriate” for young ladies in those days. Despite a fear of water, she pushed herself as an adult to take swimming lessons and eventually found a love for leisurely swimming lengths in the pool. And after many years away from the classroom while raising her family on the farm, she went back to university in the late 1980’s to upgrade her teaching degree and return to her passion for teaching as a substitute teacher for many years.

 

Ann was also a fighter. She fiercely endured many years of serious health battles – dermatomyositis, breast cancer, and lymphoma to name a few – that each weakened her body but never her resolve and incredible zest for life.

 

She loved life. She loved her family and friends. And she deeply loved this community that she was proud to call home.

 

Ann’s family sincerely thanks the staff at Wheatland Lodge, Whitehorn Village, AgeCare Sagewood, and the Strathmore Hospital for their compassionate care through her final years. We also extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Senzani for always giving Ann so much care and kindness.

 

A service for Ann will be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at Hope Covenant Community Church in Strathmore at 12:00 pm. The REP will be in effect, please make sure you have your QR code or negative test results along with valid ID. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Strathmore Legion at 3 pm to honour the life and love shared by Ann and John. Due to health restrictions last year, we were unable to gather to properly toast our dad after his passing, and we take comfort in being able to honour them both together again.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation to the Wheatland Hospice Society and their work to create a much-needed hospice for our community, a cause that Ann and John often personally supported. (www.wheatlandhospice.ca). 

 

 

 

Time is…

Too short for those who wait

Too swift for those who fear

Too long for those who grieve

Too short for those who rejoice

But for those who love…

Time is eternity.

 

- Henry Van Dyke

 

 

To watch the live stream, click here.

The video will go live approximately 10 minutes prior to the service.