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Obituary of Elisabeth Wolf Tajcnar
May 30, 1935 - Medicine Hat, Alberta
January 4, 2025 - Calgary, Alberta
Elisabeth ‘Lis’ Wolf Tajcnar (nee Tewinkel), beloved wife of Gabriel ‘Gabe’ John Tajcnar, passed away in Calgary, AB, on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the age of 89 years.
Lis was born in Medicine Hat, AB, on May 30, 1935, to Sophie and Harmon Tewinkel. She grew up on their farm at Bingville, AB, complete with the usual cast of cats, dogs, horses, and a large garden. When the farm was expropriated into the Suffield Air Base in 1940, they relocated to a farm outside of Tilley, AB. Farm life continued, including riding her horse the two miles to attend school, which was her warm and preferred transport over the cold truck that one of the neighbours used as a school bus. She graduated from Tilley High School in 1952.
That fall she moved to Calgary, AB, to attend the University of Alberta (Calgary branch) and enrolled in a B.Ed. program. Once able to qualify as a schoolteacher, she taught various grades at schools in Hilda, AB, and Beaver Lodge, AB, from 1954 to 1957. She returned to university in Edmonton, AB, in the fall of 1957, graduating from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. (General Sciences) in 1958. Later in life, she added to her educational accomplishments, finishing a B.Ed. (1976) and Diploma of Education (Communications) (1983), both from the University of Lethbridge.
Lis and Gabe married on August 15, 1959. They settled first in Stettler, AB, where Gabe had taken a position teaching high school science. Their children, Lynn and Garth, were both born in Stettler, AB. The family quickly moved on, following Gabe’s teaching career to High River, AB, then Calgary, AB, before taking the adventurous step of moving to Johore Bahru, Malaysia for four years of ex-pat life while Gabe taught at an agricultural college. During this time, Lis stayed home to care for Lynn and Garth while also spending some time doing volunteer work. There were many opportunities for local and international travel during these years, with visits made to various places in Malaysia as well as India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. It was a common Saturday activity to drive across the causeway to Singapore for shopping and/or swim lessons for the kids. Stops were also made in Japan, Britain, Denmark, and Czechoslovakia on the trips home.
On returning to Canada in the fall of 1970, they landed in Toronto, ON, purchased a car, and drove the family back to Calgary. A couple of years were spent in Calgary, before moving to live at the teacherage behind St. Mary’s Residential School on the Kainai Reserve in Southern Alberta.
Lis returned to teaching in 1976, working for the Cardston School District and teaching grades four through nine in the two-room school at East Cardston Colony. In 1981, Gabe made a career switch to agriculture, and they moved to High Prairie, AB. Lis continued teaching in and around High Prairie until the early 90s and then held the position of Treasurer for the Feeder’s Association for several years. She also volunteered for numerous organizations including the municipal library, the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, and the TransCanada Trail Association, not to mention working almost every bingo she was asked to be at.
In the mid-80s, Lis and Gabe revived their interest in travel, taking trips of between three weeks to three months, usually starting in November to miss the worst of the darkness. Duration and destination varied, including returning to Malaysia, visiting Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Mexico, a trip through Argentina and Chile as well as visits to the west coast, the Gaspe Peninsula, and the Maritimes. Lynn referred to them as “her geriatric backpacking parents” as their preference was to travel by local transport, stay in local business class hotels and carry no more than carry-on baggage to be sure they could get on standby flights.
Lis moved to Burnaby, BC, in 2004 for the combination of weather and grandchildren. She enjoyed regular “Grandma days” with her grandchildren Lili and Lukas until they started school, taking them to various playgrounds, for walks along the river paths, and helping to teach them how to skate and ride their bicycles. She joined two winter walking groups for urban hiking trips, a cycling group to explore and learn the bicycle routes, two winter skating clubs, and a local ski club for regular cross-country ski or snowshoe excursions. She kept up her adventurous travel habits, sometimes going on her own and sometimes joining a group or one of her children. She travelled to Vietnam, China, Britain, Australia, and Denmark, as well as taking road trips back through northern and southern Alberta. She enjoyed trailer camping and happily rode along with Lynn on a jaunt down the Washington and Oregon Coast one year, and driving the Alaska Highway as far as possible a few years later.
Lis enjoyed art, music, performing arts, cooking, gardening, doing things outdoors, books, knitting, travel, and many other activities. She will be most remembered for her adventurous nature, quiet listening skills, and exceptional wit.
Elisabeth is survived by her daughter Lynn Tajcnar of Calgary, AB, son Garth Tajcnar of New Westminster, BC, granddaughter Lilian Philipp-Tajcnar of Burnaby, BC, and grandson Lukas Philipp-Tajcnar of Burnaby, BC.
Elisabeth is also survived by her cousin Sandra Seifert of Medicine Hat, AB; brothers-in-law Rudy (Rose) Tajcnar of Taber, AB, Peter (Wilma) Tajcnar of Edmonton, AB, Frank Tajcnar (Taber, AB), and Harry Poznikoff of Edmonton, AB; and sister-in-law Shirley Tajcnar of Calgary, AB, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Elisabeth was predeceased by her husband Gabriel, brother-in-law William Tajcnar, and sister-in-law Gabriella Poznikoff.
Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McInnis & Holloway (Calgary Crematorium, 3219-4th Street N.W. Calgary, AB within the valley of Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, January 10, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If friends so desire, memorial donations in support of Lewy Body Dementia research may be made directly to Dr. Stephen Pasternak and his colleagues at the Robarts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario in London, ON, at www.westernconnect.ca/donate. Tax receipts are issued by the University of Western Ontario since the Robarts Research Institute is part of the Schulich School of Dentistry and Medicine at Western.
Alternatively, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region, Suite #400, 105 – 12th Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 1A1 Telephone: (403) 297–1700, www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Elisabeth’s family here.
In living memory of Elisabeth Tajcnar, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Calgary Crematorium, 3219 – 4th Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 3A6, Telephone: 403-299-0111.
