GOLKE; Darleen Ruth
April 1, 1943 ~ December 16, 2014
With deep sorrow, we announce the loss, on December 16, of a truly irreplaceable cornerstone of our family. Darleen Ruth Golke was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 01, 1943; the first child of Elsie and Arnold Golke, and spent her early years on the family farm near the rural community of River Hills, MB. Dar's formal education progressed from the local 2-room school, to high school in Lacombe, Alberta, then to Andrews University in Michigan for a BA in English Literature and subsequently to the U. of Manitoba for teaching certification. She began teaching in Boissevain, MB, moving to a full-time position at Miles McDonnell Collegiate in Winnipeg, from 1966 - 1969. Dar moved to Toronto in 1969, and from 1970 - 1975 she taught at William Lyon McKenzie Collegiate --one of the newest high schools in Toronto. Those years were probably the most professionally satisfying of her career, with a progressive administration and bright, inquisitive students providing a rich teaching environment. In 1975, Dar moved back to Winnipeg, married, and embarked on a business venture. Unfortunately, neither marriage nor business survived, and she returned to teaching. In 1978, she joined the staff at Fort Richmond Collegiate, and remained there as teacher / librarian for nearly 25 years. She proceeded to upgrade her credentials by completing, in 1996, a Master of Library and Information Science degree. During the years at Fort Richmond Collegiate, Dar made many good friends, none closer than Gail Gowanlock. The two shared a thirst for adventure and joined forces on trips to destinations including China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Cuba, and Mexico. Many more excursions were pending. Dar's selfless dedication to family members in times of need was extraordinary: if someone had a problem, Dar could always be relied on to provide direct support and intelligent advocacy. After retirement in 2003, she moved to Abbotsford and devoted much of her energy to caring for her mother. Dar's watchful presence allowed Mom to remain in her own home until 2013, and saved the rest of the family much stress and worry: we owe her an enormous debt of gratitude for that wonderful gift. Left to mourn are: her mother, Elsie; sister, Morna, brother, Bill; sister-in-law, Barbara; niece, Raena; nephews, Neil and Kyle; uncles, aunts, cousins, and many good friends. She was pre-deceased by her father, Arnold; and brother, Bruce. A memorial celebration will be held in spring 2015, in the Fraser Valley. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.