Obituary of Merle Schreiner

Merle Dorothy Youngson was born in Rose Valley, SK, to Wilfred James and Florence Rosella Youngson.  She loved having a playmate and sister, Joyce, only 16 months younger.

When Merle was 8 years old, the family moved to Barrier Lake, SK, and later on to Nipawin, SK for better schooling opportunities.  As a young girl, Merle was involved in piano lessons, Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT), Brownies, Girl Guides, and Sunday School.

In 1951, Merle met and married Benjamin (Bud) Schreiner and settled on a farm   6 miles west and 2 miles south of Pontrilas, SK.  Here, they worked as a team, raising cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens, growing crops, gardening, and building a home and family together.  They were blessed with four children, Ken, Kevin, Karen, and Konnie, and celebrated just short of 50 years together.

Merle’s involvement in the fields and yard, along with household duties and raising their children, was by far her first and most important job.  During school years, she served as a school trustee for 28 years and drove school bus for 18 years.  When the children moved on as adults, Merle officially entered the workforce.

Her roles and places of employment included being Poll Clerk for Statistics Canada, Interviewer for “Lights for Life “with Gallup Poll UCAL Management Consultant Ltd., Sales Clerk at the Metropolitan Store, and in 1988, Merle joined Handiworks as Supportive Independent Living Program Supervisor and remained there until 2000.  Her final place of employment was working part-time at Heritage Funeral Home.

Merle enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crocheting, but her passion became investigating her and Bud’s family histories and creating scrapbooks and photo albums which will be passed on to the next generations.

Whatever Merle was involved in, she was always quick to challenge others on their beliefs, concerned for their eternal destination. She had a desire to obey the Lord and share Him with others.  She was a true evangelist, boldly speaking out for the Lord.  The testimony and example she set for her family is priceless and her crown in heaven will be beautiful.  We look forward to rejoicing with her again one day.

She is predeceased by: her parents, Wilfred and Florence; her husband in 2001, Bud; and her many Schreiner brothers and sisters.

Merle is survived by:  her 4 children, Ken (Celia), Kevin (Sandy), Karen (Garth Hartung), and Konnie (Ted Francois); 13 grandchildren, Joe (Tanya), Amy (Chris Leavitt), John Roy (Keysha), Cordell (Becky), Nadine (Kent Priebe), Rhonda (Anthony Bergeron), Rochelle (Joe Azure), Danielle, Cole, Kailyn (Daniel Rude), Marc (Sabrina), Alec (Madeline), and Ben (Isabella); 20 great grandchildren; her sister, Joyce (Lyle Simons); and many nieces and nephews.