Joanie Elizabeth Wekner

The family of Joanie Elizabeth (Gehl) Wekner sadly announce her passing on Friday, November 2, 2018 after a short but extremely courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Joanie was a Registered Nurse, currently holding the position of District Executive Director at Victorian Order of Nurses Canada. She worked hard and loved her job. Nothing was ever a great challenge for Joanie. If she didn’t know how to do something, she dug in and did it successfully anyway. She loved to sew, read and cuddle with the two family cats, Jack and Meesha.

Joanie leaves behind her beloved husband Bradley and loving daughter Stephanie, mother Millie Gehl-Nikkila, sister Janice (Dominic) Rizzo and brother Jim (Carole) Gehl, niece and nephews Jim (Jenna), Jaime and Michael, father-in-law Alvin Wekner, two special aunts Angie and Betty and many cousins. She also leaves behind many friends and co-workers whose relationships she cherished. She is predeceased by two children, Sean and Nicole, her father William Gehl, stepfather Kal Nikkila, mother-in-law Helen Wekner and grandparents Louis and Cecelia Ivanek.

Funeral services for Joanie will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, presided by Father Francisco Blazek of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. Visitation for family and friends will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment to follow in St. Andrew’s Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to VON Thunder Bay, 214 Red River Road, Suite 200, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 1A6.