Wilhelmine (Willie) Achtemichuk beloved wife of the late George Achtemichuk passed away peacefully at the Yorkton Nursing home on June 4, 2017. She was 91 years of age. Wilhelmine was born Oct. 26, 1925 on the family farm in the Rhein area, a daughter of Jacob and Amalie (nee Miller) Herman. She grew up on the family farm and received her primary education at New Canadian School in the Rhein area and as a result of her mother's untimely passing she stayed on the farm and helped raise the younger members of the family. In 1951 she was united in marriage to George Achtemichuk and continued to live in Rhein. In 1952 George and Wilhelmine were blessed with one son, Norman. They both worked at Lucky Dollar store in Rhein, George as a butcher and Willie as a cashier until 1963. They purchased a grocery store in Melville and successfully ran it for three years. In 1967 the family moved to Yorkton where she gained employment with Canada Safeway and was a dedicated and loyal employee for 21 years until her retirement. She was a devoted caring wife, mother, sister and friend. Her outgoing and friendly personality, infectious smile and great sense of humor befriended everyone who came to know her. She always made time to listen to her friends and family and help in anyway she could whether it was through her work or through her gift of baking. She lived a rich full life enjoying friend's family and neighbors. Upon retiring, Willie and George enjoyed a wonderful life together doing what they loved. One of their favorite hobbies was packing up a lunch (that they loved to share with friends) and heading off to a ballgame in and around the area. No game was too far away. They loved to watch ball and share their time and their lunch with friends they made along the way. They also enjoyed watching the Cardinals and Terriers in Yorkton and watching Blue Jays and Oilers on TV and of course Mom's favorite watching curling. After George's passing, mom spent time with her two loving sisters Emma and Isabel. The Herman girls (as they were referred to), were well known and well liked by everyone who shared time with them. They stayed close to each other having coffee or sharing garage sales and helping each other through life's journey's. Willie had a huge passion for baking and was well known for her amazing "trays of goodies". Willie had a lifelong dream of writing a cookbook and in 2002 with the help of her very special niece Bonnie and her son Norman she completed her lifelong dream. The book was called "Baking with Auntie Willie" as she was everyone's Aunt. The book was an immediate hit! The Herman girls with help of family and friend soon sold out the first print and another one was ordered as selling to friends, family and garage sales created a huge demand. How she beamed when talking about making her cookbook and her baking and how other people so enjoyed her efforts as she always had a tray for someone to take home. She enjoyed her church, St. Paul Lutheran and was a faithful member. Willie was a resident at the Yorkton Nursing home since 2012 where she received loving care from the staff at Orkney House. Wilhelmine was predeceased by her husband George, her parents, Jacob and Amalie Herman, her stepmother Caroline, her sister Emma and husband Edmund Mehling, her brother Herbert Herman, her sister Isabel and husband Sydney Wolfe, her nephew Clifford Wolfe and her niece Marilyn Grenier. She leaves to cherish her memory her son Norman and his special friend Judy (Jude) Wilkie, her special niece Bonnie and husband Darrell Mirva, her stepbrother Fred Steininger, sister in law Phyllis Herman along with many nephews, nieces, family relatives, friends and co-workers. The funeral service was held on Friday, June 9, 2017 from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorkton. Pastor Heike Toeller officiated, assisted by Margaret Anne Yost. Organist, Verna Liebrecht led the congregation in the singing of the hymns 'Softly & Tenderly Jesus is Calling, 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives', and 'God Be With You Till We Meet Again'. The interment took place in the Garden of St. Mark at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Bonnie Mirva serving as the urn bearer. Memorials were to St. Paul Lutheran Church. Condolences can be left at baileysfuneralhome.com.
