The family of Irene M. Bishoff wish to inform friends and family of her passing early in the morning of Jan 7, 2022. Irene is predeceased by her three sisters Laura, Mildred and Mary in British Columbia, and her husband of 68 years, Adam in 2011. She is survived by her son Ron (Irene) and their sons Adam (Lea) and Scott (Judy)( their children Lynnella and Justin); her son Alan (Valendie) his son John (Katie) ( their children Rebecca and Thomas) and daughters Felicia (children Zoe, Osawask, Elijah and Marley) and daughter Lindsay (children Ava, Harlow, Beau and Nash); and her daughter Jo-Anne (John) Heggie and their children Keith (Gaetanne),( their children Xavier and Zoe) and Geoff ( Shannon) (their children Brooke and Naomi) and Dale (Jen) (their children Archer, Carwin and Veda) and Marcie (Braden Kolybaba)( their children Ari, Nora and Roman).
Irene was born in the Kingsland - Rosetown area on November 12, 1918. She helped her dad on the farm. After getting her high school by correspondence and boarding in Rosetown, she moved to Saskatoon where her older sister was enrolled in nursing. She did housekeeping in exchange for room and board, while she took part time art classes.
Just before the war, her family moved to Vancouver Island. Irene took secretarial training and worked in a small office for a short time until a friend encouraged Irene to come with her to build airplanes for Boeing Aircraft. About that time at a social for enlisted men she met a farm boy from Saskatchewan. After knowing each other for two weeks they got married and Adam left shortly after, to go overseas. Irene worked at Boeing and saved her money to help buy their farm.
When Adam returned in 1945, they bought their farm in the Keeler district near Moose Jaw where they lived until the late 80’s. They started out on a depression abandoned farm. They were “successful farmers” making a decent living, time for vacations and later, world travel. Irene was the driver for the post-secondary education for their children. For a number of years, they joined with five other local families in a farming cooperative. They were always active in the local community and beyond through the 4-H clubs, local co-operatives, Wheat Pools, Farmer’s Union and CCF/NDP. They took responsibility for their own well-being but put time, money and effort into building a better world for all around them.
When Irene and Adam retired from the farm, they moved into a housing co-operative in Moose Jaw. Irene and Adam always enjoyed dancing, including Danceland at Watrous. They were active at the COSMOS Centre in Moose Jaw, particularly the bridge tournaments. Irene was a volunteer on the executive of COSMOS and also for “meals on wheels”. Irene enjoyed curling and golf. With Adam’s decreasing ability they moved out of their home of fifteen years on Wolf Avenue. Adam was moved to Providence Place and Irene moved to Crescent Park Villa. When Irene began having difficulty caring for herself, she moved to Extendicare where she spent the last years of her life.
In her later years, when Irene was not able to be as active, she used her resources to support a number of causes that were important to her. For her environmental concerns she supported the David Suzuki Foundation. For the plight of impoverished, oppressed and under-served people around the world she supported Doctors Without Borders, OXFAM, UNICEF, and Amnesty International. In support of struggles for justice and equality within Canada Irene donated to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Broadbent Institute and of course her CCF/NDP.
Unfortunately, none of the goals Irene supported have been achieved in her lifetime. If you wish to make a donation in memory of Irene, please do so - to any of these or the charity of your own choice.
In living memory of Irene, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries).
The family of Irene M. Bishoff, who passed away on January 7, 2022, would like to announce a come and go tea will be on Saturday July 2nd, 2022, at 1:30pm at W.J. Jones & Son Reception Centre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Memorial donations can be made to one’s charity of choice. In living memory of Irene, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd.
