Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Val was born Monday, September 30, 1963 in The Pas, Manitoba, to Mel and Norma Haggstrom.
Being the youngest of three children, she grew up in a Christian home belonging to the Salvation Army. Val received her education at Opasquia School, Scott Bateman and graduated from MBCI in 1981.
While growing up, she had a love for animals, pet rabbits, Chihuahuas and her horse “Captian”. She wanted one day to bring home a piglet which was the runt of the litter but her dad put a stop to that since he feared that little runt would grow into a 400 lb pig and he didn’t want that pig in the house.
When Val got her driver’s licence at 16, she liked to go cruising around in the old green “house painted” Impala. After graduating, she worked for a short time at Canada Manpower before going to work for Hemauer Funeral Home in the early 80’s as a secretary. She continued working until getting married to the love of her life Gunter on July 24, 1993.
Val wrote to Gunter through a Christian Correspondence Club in April of 1992. She met Gunter for the first time on the May long weekend in Winnipeg of that same year. Falling in love together, they were engaged in July of 1992 and married in The Pas the following year.
Moving to Winnipeg with her new husband, they started their life together. Their daughter Rhiannon was born June 15, 1994 and son Justin born February 7, 1998.
In July of 1998, Gunter was hired by HBR. For Val, this was a very happy time since after 5 years of living in Winnipeg, this was a home coming to be closer to family. The next 21 years until her passing, through the ups and downs, she was happy that she was home.
Val enjoyed many things which made her happy; she was always there for her children, loving them unconditionally, being a home maker, cooking meals and keeping her home organized. Val returned to Hemauer Funeral Home until 2008, when her health began to decline and she chose to stay home. She kept busy by cross stitching, reading books of her favorite novelist, Danielle Steel, and looking after her family. There were many other activities which are too long to list that Val enjoyed doing.
Val passed away unexpectedly with her family at her side, Saturday, June 1, 2019, at her home in The Pas, at the age of 55 years.
Val leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 26 years, Gunter; daughter Rhiannon; son Justin, brother Elof (Rosemary) Haggstrom; sister Shirley (Gordon) Murray; nephew Ryan Murray; niece Ginny Haggstrom; cousin Sheri (Clarence) Olson; and may extended family members and friends.
Val was predeceased by her parents Mel and Norma Haggstrom.
“Mom will never be forgotten, as there are no words that I can say, if I said all the things I could say,I could have written a book. I love you Mom.” - Justin
“I love you and will always miss you Mom.” - Rhiannon
“I will dearly miss you ‘Hunny Bunny’, until we see each other again. I love you.” - Gunter
Celebration of Life
Saturday, June 15, 2019 1:00 pm
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, The Pas, Manitoba
Under the auspices of the Salvation Army
Presider: Major Mary Smith
Urn Bearer - Justin Beil
Usher - Jordan Greenwood and Kristie-Ann Greenwood
Honorary Pallbearers - The Pas Fire Department, Family and Friends
Reception - The Pas Christian Fellowship, The Pas, Manitoba
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Pas Fire Department, c/o Box 870, The Pas, Manitoba, R9A 1K8, would be appreciated by Val’s family.