Dora (Tindall) Schmeelke
May 6, 1930 – July 22, 2019
Dora Schmeelke of Vulcan, passed away peacefully in Calgary on July 22, 2019 at the age of 89 years.
Dora was born on the Tindall family farm near Champion, the fifth daughter of Harold and Ula (Ficht) Tindall. She attended Yale and Harmony Schools and then worked with her parents on the farm. She loved softball and pitched for both Yale and Harmony teams, but winter brought the greatest joy—skating! Dora and her seven siblings were raised with lots of love and laughter and remained closely-knit throughout their lives.
On June 3, 1955, she married the love of her life, Leith Schmeelke, and moved seven miles to his family farm. Dora lived on that beloved farm for sixty-three years, helping Leith with seeding and harvest, raising cattle, pigs and chickens, and planting, harvesting and processing the produce from several large gardens. She sewed piles of clothing and became an avid quilter, producing more than 250 quilts and comforters to bless both family members and friends.
Dora also became an integral part of Bethel Lutheran Church in Vulcan. She taught Sunday School and served in various capacities for the Bethel Lutheran Ladies’ Guild. She also participated in the Coalmine Road Amity Club and volunteered with the Sanderson Army and later with Glenda’s Gang to sing regularly at Extendicare, Peter Dawson Lodge and the Vulcan Hospital Long Term Care. She loved flowers and took multitudinous rose bowls and bouquets of gladioli from her garden to those who weren’t able to have their own flowers.
Dora and Leith raised three children who remember them with love: Laura (Frank) Tanasychuk of Edmonton, Bill (Sharon) Schmeelke of Carmangay and Glen (Sue) Schmeelke of Vulcan. Her grandchildren were the treasures of her heart: Alex (Juli Bayer) Tanasychuk, Joel (Naomi) Tanasychuk, Nathan (Melissa) Schmeelke, Dan (Amanda) Schmeelke, Matthew (Erica) Schmeelke, Travis Schmeelke, Wade (Gabby) Schmeelke, and Kolby Schmeelke. Eight great-grandchildren added yet another dimension of love to her life: Maddison, Ava, Emma, Isaak, Grace, Ayden, Jasper and Kasen.
In addition to her immediate family, Dora is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth (Tindall Patterson) and Richard Hunter of Penticton, her brother and sister-in-law, Herb and Jeanette Tindall of Calgary, her brothers-in-law Jim Reath and Lee Davis, both of Lethbridge, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
She was predeceased by her husband Leith, her sisters and brothers-in-law Marion and Martin Matlock, Mildred and Melvin Olds, Dorn Ruggles and Jean Ruggles Reath, Stuart Patterson, Betty and Ken Killick, and Joyce Davis, as well as her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Marion and Earl Stenson and Elsie and Victor Leonhardt.
Dora loved with an open heart and her circle of friends is wide. Her family acknowledges with gratitude and thanks the role all her loved ones played in making her life full and rich.
Our precious Lord took Dora’s hand on the evening of July 22, 2019, after a two-year battle with cancer. Her family is grateful for the care and friendship of the staff of Peter Dawson Lodge and Vulcan Home Care, Vulcan Community Health Centre and Long Term Care, the Southern Alberta Palliative Care Team and Unit 47 at Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Profound thanks are extended to all of her doctors and care team members for their thoughtful and loving attention. We also thank her friends, far and wide, for their prayers and many acts of kindness, especially over the last few months.
A Funeral Service in Dora’s honor will be held Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 10:30 am at Central Church of Christ (409-1 St South), Interment Champion Cemetery.
Any tributes in Dora’s memory can be made to the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation, Box 28, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0 Or Lutheran Layman’s League, 270 Lawrence Ave., Kitchener, ON N2M 1Y4.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.
I got to know Dora briefly as she was the room mate to my Mother , Phyllis Huff , in Long Term @ Vulcan . She truly was an open hearted woman and her laugh was delightful . The one day I was there my Mom was having a very bad day and Dora so kindly gave me a Devotion Book to share with my Mom . It was such a nice gesture and kind of her . Another time there were family and friends there and a small family service / communion was taking place . It was touching and beautiful . And from that I knew her Faith was great . I am so sorry for your Loss and I hope you have some consolation that Dora is now with our Dear Lord and Savior . She was a very nice , kind woman and I am blessed to have known her for that short time . Sincere Sympathy to you the Family
My thoughts are with you Laura and family. She was such a kind and loving soul. I had the honour of chatting with her a few times when she came the the Lethbridge hospital, usually to accompany a friend. Her smile and her laugh were in infectious. She never had a frown on….always a beautiful smile. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be missed by many as she touched so many hearts. My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family, and to your brothers as well. May your loving memories help you through this time and bring you peace. She will always be on your mind and forever in your heart. I know she will always have a special place in my heart as to me she was a wonderful friend.