Marvis Wilm

August 4, 1947 ~ September 8, 2022

Darlene “Marvis” as she was known to all her family, friends, & colleagues; Wilm. With her family by her side Marvis passed away peacefully at the Victoria Hospital on September 8, 2022.  Marvis, along with her twin sister Mavis, were born to Maisie Hamilton (nee Grant) & Herb Hamilton, and their older sisters Donna & Sharon in Estevan, SK on August 4, 1947.  Marvis would remind us from time to time that she was born the same day as Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and as her Royal destiny would have it, she bid her adieu peacefully on the same day as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, may she reign forever in our hearts.  Marvis’ family grew up in a small home in Roche Percee, SK.  Roche Percee or “pierced rock” is located along the Souris River approximately 17 km southeast of Estevan.  This geological feature illustrated on Marvis’ District Governor Pin was a place of worship for the Assiniboine people.  Marvis graduated from high school in Estevan, SK.  After high school Marvis attended the Saskatchewan Technical Institute (STI) Business College in Moose Jaw, SK where she obtained a degree in Business & Accounting.  Armed with her degree she started out life as a secretary for 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Canadian Forces Base, located south of Moose Jaw, SK.  She would then move on to Regina, SK where she would begin her career at Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) Motor License Division.  She was transferred to the SGI Prince Albert Branch Office where she ultimately became the General Manager.  It was during her time in Prince Albert where Marvis met the love of her life, James Karl Wilm.  They met one fine evening downtown PA at the Louis Riel, which resided in what is now the parking lot of the Plaza 88 Event Centre.  At the time James, was a career firefighter for the Prince Albert Fire Department where he started as an alarm room operator on January 13, 1964 and would eventually work his way through the ranks to become Fire Chief for the City of Prince Albert in the early 90’s.  They were married the wintery evening of January 22, 1983 in Christopher Lake, 37 kilometers north of Prince Albert, in the home of Percy Hiltz, with their best friends to stand witness, they arrived together all in one car, precisely in the middle of dinner.  Percy was more than happy to take a brief step away from his meat and potatoes to perform a marriage that would be filled with love that would last a lifetime.  It took all of about 6 minutes to make everything official and Percy was able to enjoy his dinner while it was still piping hot.  Later that year on February 27, 1983 they gave birth to Dallas.  Marvis went into labour right when the very last episode of M*A*S*H was airing on television, this was well before TiVo was around so everyone had to miss it, Dallas’ older brother Richard will never let him forget that fateful day.  20 months later, on October 29, 1984, Jim and Marvis welcomed their daughter, Darliss into the world.  Having outgrown their home at 810 3^rd St East in Prince Albert they bid farewell to their friendly neighbors the Kuppenbender’s and purchased their dream acreage on Lincoln Park Road where they spent the rest of their lives together, and what a life it was.  After retiring from SGI, Marvis took a position with the Prince Albert branch of the Canadian Red Cross. She went above and beyond her duties as Regional Coordinator of Disaster Services for the Canadian Red Cross, volunteering hundreds of hours to train volunteers and provide emergency services.  She will be dearly missed by her colleagues notably Kim MacLean, Chriss Gates, Sue Laflamme, Sharon Walker, and countless others throughout her many years with the Canadian Red Cross.  During her time with the Canadian Red Cross, Marvis spent 21 days in New York at ground zero following the aftermath of 9/11. One of her duties at ground zero included looking after the administration of those who had recently lost their homes due to the September 11 attacks. While in New York she met Robin Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Rosie O’Donnell, none of which she recognized at all, except maybe Rosie.  Robin Williams listed a handful of his recent works for Marvis which likely included “Bicentennial Man, Jakob the Liar, and Patch Adams” none of them Marvis had ever heard of before. Robin reached way back to the late 70’s – “Mork & Mindy” and Marvis immediately recognized him as Mork who was played by the then-unknown Robin Williams.  Helping people and being a volunteer was a way of life for Marvis.  In her time spent outside of her career and family life, Marvis poured all of her heart and soul into being a volunteer.  A member of the Prince Albert Lioness Club, a founding member of the Prince Albert Top-Hat Lions Club, and a member of the Prince Albert Lions Club, for nearly 40 years, Marvis has served the Lions holding every position up to and including President of every club she was a member of.  During her time in Lions, Marvis also became the President of The Lions Eye Bank of Saskatchewan, where she was awarded the Cliff Worden Fellowship Award for her dedication to humanitarian services.  Marvis was also awarded a Life Membership and Fellowship Award for her contributions and support of the Lions Foundation of Canada.  Marvis was presented the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award which is the highest recognition from the Lions Clubs International Foundation given to members who have rendered outstanding community services.  In January 2004 Marvis was awarded the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada. A committed fundraiser, Marvis devoted 12 years to the Canadian Diabetes Association, she canvassed for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and looked after The Henderson’s Directories for Prince Albert and area for several years of her life.  In her later years, Marvis also volunteered her time with the Prince Albert Barveenok Ukrainian Dancers to support her grandchildren, Willow, Faith & Nathan.  Marvis had also been a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Prince Albert with her loving husband Jim for nearly 40 years.  Marvis’ lifelong passion for her dedication to humanitarian services culminated in 2020 when she became the Lions 5CN District Governor.  Marvis’ health was waning by this part of her life, and her close family and friends were all worried that she wouldn’t be able to perform all of the extensive duties and travelling required by the District Governor.  However, Marvis was persistent and stubborn and said she must do this, her entire life has led up to this one opportunity to become the 5CN District Governor and she wasn’t going to give up on that dream for anything.  Marvis pressed on with all of the love and support we could give her until she achieved her dreams.  Marvis served as the 5CN District Governor for the 2020-2021 year.  COVID threw quite a few curve balls at Marvis during her year as Governor.  Marvis, at nearly 75 years of age quickly had to become a master of remote meetings from her home computer, this was no easy task for Marvis, but with a little help from her 2^nd Vice District Governor, Marianne Kramchynsky, fellow District Governors, and the many others that stood behind Marvis during her time as Governor, she absolutely rocked it!  But between her careers, volunteering, meetings, and above anything else, Marvis was truly the greatest mom that has ever graced the earth for her children. She was a wonderful wife, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, sister, but above all she was the best mom anyone could ever ask for. She will be missed forever by her children and all of their friends through the years who all considered Marvis to be their second mom, she looked out for all of us kids and our friends throughout our lives, and always made sure to steer us down the right path with her words of wisdom.  Marvis always had the coffee pot on for anyone at any time, she absolutely loved having company out to visit and reminisce around the kitchen table, or out on the deck if it was nice out.  During the holidays Marvis made sure that no one in that house ever went home hungry, and always sent leftovers home with everyone after offering the standard breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, supper, seconds, thirds, fourths, and don’t forget to leave room for a dessert or two after. C’mon Wendy, you can’t possibly be full already! There were always plenty of options to choose from, Marvis was well known in the family for her Christmas baking trays that she spent hours and hours baking dozens and dozens of different squares, cookies, butter tarts, buns, you name it she had it, and if she didn’t she’d be sure to get the recipe so she could make it the next year for you. That’s the kind of person Marvis was, she would always keep her promises and would always selflessly put the needs of others before her own.  She will forever be in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.  The family would like to express deepest thanks and appreciation to neighbors Lyle & Jean Christian, and Darcy & Michelle Novotny for everything they do for our parents, whether it be mowing the grass, plowing the snow, or just making sure the doors are all locked, we can’t ever thank you enough.  The family would also like to express thanks and appreciation to family friends Brenda Downie, Garry Beaudry, Connie Bonar, Suzanne Bantle and countless other close friends through Lions and Lioness for checking in on mom and dad often to be sure everything is safe and ok, we can never thank you all enough for all that you do.  Marvis is survived by her twin sister Mavis Reeves, nieces and nephews Holli Appelquist (Barry Appelquist), Marty Seper, Jackie Shaffer (Thane Schaffer), Rhonda Bowers, her loving husband of 39 years James Karl Wilm, children Dallas Wilm (Nicki Marino), Darliss Vogelgesang (Jason Vogelgesang), Richard Wilm (Wendy Featherstone) and Sebastian Balon, grandchildren Matthew Hustej, Michael Hustej, Willow Vogelgesang, Faith Vogelgesang, Nathan Vogelgesang, Audrina Wilm, Bennett Wilm, great grandson Myles Hustej. Marvis was predeceased by her mother Maisie Hamilton, father Herb Hamilton, sisters Donna Bowers, & Sharon Chapman (Bob Chapman), and her nephew Rick Bowers. A Visitation for family and friends will be held at Grays Funeral Chapel- 575- 28^th Street West, Prince Albert on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, from 7:00- 9:00 p.m. Memorial Service will be held at Prince Albert Exhibition Center- 815 Exhibition Drive on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens. Services will be live streamed and videotaped. If you wish to view the service, the live stream link is www.grays.ca/memorial-videos/.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306) 922-4729.  Those wishing may make donations to the Canadian Red Cross Society at https://www.redcross.ca/donate.

 

 

• Date : 2022-09-08
• Location : Prince Albert, SK