With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Bonnie Jean Giesbrecht on Sunday, September 22nd, at the age of 76. She passed away peacefully at Drumheller Continuing Care, with daughter Lisa by her side.
Bonnie was born to Jim and Clarice Duncan in Virden, MB, a little sister to Maxine. When Maxine and Bonnie were both young, the family packed up and headed west to Alberta. They ended up buying a house on Marten Street in Banff, and that was where Bonnie grew up.
While working in Banff in her adult years, Bonnie met Ken. They were married in 1974 at Kelowna, and then moved to the Carbon area, eventually buying an acreage just east of town. In April of 1983, they brought home their daughter, Lisa. When Lisa was in grade two, she and Bonnie moved into Carbon, settling into a house on Aberdeen Avenue. That’s where they stayed until after Lisa graduated and then moved on to Drumheller. Bonnie was only in Drumheller a short time before making her way back to Carbon, where she remained until her health took a turn in January 2022.
She worked at a variety of places through the years including Carbon School, Royal Tyrrell Museum gift shop, Drumheller and Region Transition Society, and finally Valley Bus. She was a member of the Carbon Legion and was on the board for the Carbon Community Centre.
In her retirement, Bonnie was able to do some travelling. Her first trip was to the Maritimes with her good friend Verna in 2007, followed by Tennessee in 2011 with her sister Maxine. In 2015, her and Verna went to Ireland and Scotland, a trip she had been talking about taking for years.
Bonnie had a tremendous love for the mountains, as well as a true appreciation for Indigenous arts and culture, both of which stemmed from her time in Banff. She enjoyed most music and could often be heard humming a tune while out of a walk. As an animal lover, she would watch her furry grandchildren anytime she was able. Bonnie had an infectious giggle that made it almost impossible to be in a bad mood when you were around her.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and James Magee, sister Maxine Toma, brother-in-law Gil (Wilma) Giesbrecht and sister-in-law Edith Penner; numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends.
Bonnie was predeceased by her parents, Jim and Clarice Duncan; brothers-in-law Tommy Toma, Doug Giesbrecht and Bob Penner; and nephew Corey Giesbrecht.
Special thanks to the physicians and staff at Drumheller Continuing Care for the care Bonnie received these past couple of years.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 4th at 1pm at the Carbon Community Centre, with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers and in honour of Bonnie’s time on the board, donations can be made to the Carbon Community Centre (E-transfer to carboncommunitycentre@gmail.com or PO Box 476, Carbon, AB T0M 0L0), or a charity of one’s choice.
