Marilyn Unruh

December 1, 1940 – May 2, 2025

 

Marilyn Unruh, most recently of Good Shepherd Villa in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, passed away at 5pm on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Marilyn was born on December 1, 1940 in Winnipeg to Earl and Rose Kraft. Marilyn Kraft and Neil Unruh were married in April of 1959 in Yarrow, BC where they lived on the farm working with Neil’s dad Cornelius Unruh. In 1962 they moved to Regina to attend Bible College.

They were blessed with five daughters, Wendy (Temple), Joy (Ulrich), Sherry (Roman), Karen (Addley) and Stella (Warburton). They have 18 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren, one of whom has passed away. Marilyn and Neil were married for 65 years. Neil passed away in February of 2024. She is survived by her siblings, Lydia, Frieda, David and Donna. Her sisters, Myrtle and Kathleen preceded her in death.

Mom had the gift of hospitality as she pastored together with Dad in various churches. Many Sundays there was a roast in the oven for guests that she invited after the service. People felt welcomed and cared for in her home.

Marilyn was a gifted writer and wrote many amazing poems. She used her writing to both process thoughts and pain as a way to bring healing to her soul, and to provide comfort and wisdom to others. Mom took training to become an early child educator. She was an outstanding child care worker, working in schools and daycares, eventually opening up her own daycare in her home in Strathmore, AB.

During the 1980s they started vacationing at Dore Lake, SK, and purchased a cabin in 1986 that they had for over 40 years. Camp Carmel has been an important place of ministry and family gathering that is dear to the hearts of their kids, grandkids and greats. Mom perfected deboning and cooking fish and her garden was the envy of all. She was “Bush Nana” who shot deer, fished, and sat on the deck with us at sunset.

Mom’s wish was always to go from “Dore to Glory.”  Her graveside service will be at the Dore Lake Chapel on June 16, 2025 at 11am. This will be recorded and made available. Mom and Dad will share a spot by the little brown church in the woods.

Special thanks go out to the staff of Good Shepard Villa for their excellent care and compassion to Marilyn.

Marilyn found great comfort in her favourite poem and now it also brings comfort to those of us left here.

Homesick for Eden by Paul Smith

In the back of our mind

Is a time before time

And a sad, irreversible fact

We can’t seem to think why we left there

And we can’t seem to find our way back

For all of us are homesick for Eden

We yearn to return

To a place we’ve never known

Deep is the need

To go back to the garden

A burning so strong

For a place we belong

A place that we know is home

 

2 Tim. 1:7 was a verse that both Mom and Dad reflected on often as they neared death. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and love and a sound mind.”

 

Family and friends may leave online condolences at: https://grays.ca

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306) 922-4729, Mary MacWilliams, Funeral Director.

• Date : 2025-05-02
• Location : Prince Albert, SK