Joan Elizabeth Ashcroft was born June 20, 1936, the daughter of John Thomas (Milton) Brears and Minnie (Maxwell) Brears. She was raised on the farm on the Cutarm Creek near Bredenbury, SK. Upon graduation from high school Joan moved to Regina, where she started working for SaskTel. Joan married Rick Rinquist in 1957 and had two sons, Robert born in February, 1959 and Scott was born in March, 1960. Sadly, in December of 1960, Rick died in a car crash on Christmas Eve. Joan married Tom Ashcroft on June 9, 1962, initially living in Melville, SK where their daughter, Colleen was born in July 1963. Being the family of an RCMP officer, meant that they moved extensively until finally being able to settle on Yorkton in September, 1976, making a permanent home for the family. Joan was a stay-at-home mom until the three children graduated. She then took a job in the shoe department at The Bay in Yorkton, where she made lifelong friends including Ruth. She stayed with the Bay until its closing in the city. In 1986, Tom and Joan moved to an acreage south of Yorkton, building a lovely log home, where they spent their retirement years, only venturing out for a few memorable vacations, including a trip to New Zealand in 2000. Joan was blessed to enjoy seeing her two sons marry. Robert married Audrey (Riffel) in 1987. They live in Yorkton and have three daughters; Skye, Autumn and Rae. In 1997, Scott moved to Taiwan with a career as an English teacher. While in Taiwan, he met Bonnie and they were married in 1999. Joan visited Taiwan in 2012 and was able to meet Bonnie's family. Colleen lived next door and eventually moved into the house to take care of Joan, the house, and the yard after Tom's passing. Joan also loved spending time with her grandchildren, inviting one of the three girls to visit so she could concentrate her attention and have quality time with the one child. She enjoyed watching them grow and marry, eventually meeting her first grandchild, Maverick Bodnaryk in 2016. Joan passed quietly on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Yorkton, Sk. She was 80 years of age. Joan was predeceased by her father, Milton Brears; her mother, Minnie and step-mother, Betty; her husbands, Rick Rinquist and Tom Ashcroft and grandson-in-law, Patrick Rushowick. Left to mourn her passing are her children, Rob (Audrey), Scott (Bonnie) and Colleen; grandchildren, Skye (Herman), Autumn (Matthew) and Rae (Tyler) and great grandchild, Maverick; brother Murray (Twila) Brears as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, Sk officiated by Shelly Morris. The organist, Carla Laycock, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Amazing Grace" and "In the Bulb There is a Flower". Special taped music selections included Elvis Presley singing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "In the Garden". The urn bearer was Joan's son, Robert Ashcroft. A private family cremation committal will take place in the RCMP Depot Cemetery in Regina, Saskatchewan at a later date. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting . Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
