Obituary of JOAN MARGARET IDA KOEPPEL

JOAN MARGARET IDA KOEPPEL (WILSON) Beloved mom, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Joan passed peacefully on March 25, 2017 at Riverview Health Centre. Joan was born April 22, 1927 on the family farm near Neelin, Manitoba to Humphrey and Madeline (Stuart) Wilson. She was the youngest of eight children; Winnifred Collins, Madeline Gibson, William Wilson, Humphrey (Toby) Wilson, Edith Easton, Charles Wilson, and Vera Turner. Joan was a country girl at heart - she loved to roam the prairie fields with her sister Vera, where they spent many hours after chores were done exploring and discovering the natural wonders of growing up on the beautiful Manitoba prairies. Joan went to Lake Lorne school and graduated from Cartwright High School. She started teaching in a one room school house shortly after graduation. Joan eventually made her way to Winnipeg and began work at the Canadian Bank of Commerce and not long after, met her husband Hans (Jack) Koeppel. They were married July 31, 1954 and were blessed with four children, John, Gloria, Monica and Paul. Joan was predeceased by Paul in 1964 and Monica in 2006. Joan was a lover of animals and nature and took pleasure in life's simple things. She was tenacious and strong-willed and faced life's challenges with courage and quiet determination. She lived most of her life with Multiple Sclerosis and fought to find alternative therapies to help combat it. She was known to offer advice and support to numerous friends and acquaintances, even when she wasn't always feeling her best. She was always searching for cures and fought hard for the special needs of her children John and Monica. She was a rebel and made independent choices in her efforts to help them navigate their way in the world. Even when she lost her eyesight, her lifeline was her radio, and she remained well informed and aware of the world around her to the very end. Joan was non-judgmental and generous and would give her last possession if need be. Joan is survived by her son John and daughter Gloria Mancini (Mark); granddaughters, Andrea (Ryan) and Vanessa (Dylann); and great-grandson Carter. She is also survived by her sister Vera Turner; sister-in-law Jane Wilson, and many nieces and nephews. Thank you to the staff at Riverview Health Centre for their kind and compassionate care during her time there. Many thanks to the friends, family and companions who spent time with Joan on her life's journey. You were all very special and important to her, and brought many riches to her life. Should you wish to honour Joan's memory, donations may be made to Autism Society Manitoba, Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, CancerCare Manitoba, MS Society of Canada (Manitoba) or the charity of your choice. A celebration of Joan's life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street.