Joan Ellen (Lundgard) Malcolm

Obituary of Joan Ellen Malcolm (nee Lundgard), born June 23 1941, who passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023, aged 81, surrounded by her family.

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Joan, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and beloved sister. She will be deeply missed.

Joan was the eldest child of George and Tillie Lundgard. She was born in Fairview, Alberta on June 23 1941. Her early years were spent on the farm in the Royce/Lubeck district just west of Hines Creek, Alberta. She was eventually joined by six more daughters and one son. She enjoyed playing on the baseball team, learned to play the piano, and could milk a cow in no time flat!

Joan graduated from Hines Creek High School in the summer of 1960. That fall, she left the north to pursue a teaching career, studying in Edmonton at the University of Alberta. When she met a farm boy from the Markerville area, also pursuing a teaching degree, her life took a new direction, with a whole new set of dreams and goals.

Joan married Robert Joseph Malcolm on August 3rd 1962. Their dream together was to establish a farm, and to do this they were some of the last of the true homesteaders. They even made a point of each filing on adjacent quarter sections a week before they were married in order to start with a full section of land.

In the meantime, they spent time in Calgary in order for Bob to finish his degree, then they taught in Valleyview while every summer working as much as they could to bring their land into production. During this time, their family increased in size as they welcomed Teresa, Michael, Jean and Darlene – more tractor drivers and weed pullers!

Joan, Bob and the family permanently settled in the Hines Creek area in the fall of 1971. In true homestead style, at that time homework was done by the light of a coal oil lamp, running water meant you ran and got it, and a wood stove cooked the meals and warmed the house. Joan established the large garden, covering most of the yard, that would feed the family for years to come with all sorts of vegetables and even strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and saskatoons.

In addition to keeping the homestead running smoothly, Joan taught at Grace Shepherd Elementary school, including eventually teaching her younger brother George, three of her children, and even her future son-in-law. Joan was actively involved in the community, including volunteering with the End of Steel Heritage Society. She also had a second occupation for many years as a taxi driver, ensuring her four children were involved in every club going, including 4-H, band and skating to name a few. She finally retired from teaching and focused full time on the farm after many years of cultivating young minds.

For many years grain was the focus on the farm, with Joan providing countless meals of potato salad, fried chicken and fresh lemonade to workers in the fields. Eventually Bob and Joan were able to expand and establish a cow-calf operation. Bob and Joan recently retired from farming and were residing in Hines Creek.

As the years went on, son-in-laws Frank, Brett and Mark, and daughter-in-law Susan were welcomed to the family, and the family expanded to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joan was a wonderful Grandma to Steven, Bradley, Lori, Charles, Adam and Hugh, and honorary Grandma to Daniel D, Krystyne, Nathan and Daniel A. More recently, she enjoyed her great-grandchildren Silas, Elric, Adalia, Violet, Saber and Azariah.

Throughout her life, Joan was a wordsmith. She loved to write poems and stories, especially about her family. She loved to play Scrabble, winning a match against Joan was a rare occurrence!

Joan was always the quiet person in the background that made sure things got done. She had this approach to the family, to farming and to her professional career. She was always ready with a smile. One of her outstanding qualities was to always see the best qualities in others, and recognize their potential. This made her an outstanding and memorable teacher. She treated everybody with deep kindness. Joan was known for her hospitality – the coffee pot was always on!

Joan was taken from us far too soon, and she will be deeply missed. Hers was a life well-lived, and her legacy of kindness and selflessness live on in her family and all those who knew and loved her.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the Dave Shaw Memorial Complex.

Donations in Joan's honour can be made to The Hinterland Cemetery Company. or the  End of Steel Heritage Society

Care entrusted to Peace Valley Funeral Home

780-835-3306

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