Joanne Cowan was born in Biggar Saskatchewan to Frank and Francis Hendrick on May 2, 1935. She grew up in Biggar with her siblings Rose, Gabe, Paul, August, Katharine, Leo, John, and Madeline. She married Alex Cowan on August 13, 1957 and they established their first home on the family farm in Biggar. It was here where they had their five children, Valerie, Jerry, Gordy, Sandra, and Darren.

In July of 1967 Alex and Joanne moved their young family to Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan as Alex had accepted a position on the Department of Highways in the area. They called Lucky Lake home for the next 35 years. In 2002 Joanne moved from Lucky Lake to Saskatoon and lived there for 21 years. In 2023, to be closer to children, she moved to the Paradise Hill Care Home where she lived until her passing.

Joanne was predeceased by her husband Alex in 2002 and her son Gordon in 2003. She was also predeceased by her parents Frank and Francis Hendrick, her siblings, Rose Buchanan, Paul Hendrick, Leo Hendrick, August Hendrick, Kay Leschinski, & Gabe Hendrick. Additionally, she was predeceased by her son in law, Brian Lauinger.

Left to celebrate Joanne’s memory are her four children, Valerie Jacobson (Cliff), Jerry Cowan (Colleen), Sandra Lauinger, Darren Cowan (Arnaldo), her sister Madeline Hendrick, her brother John Hendrick (Gerry), and her sister-in-law Mary Anne Hendrick. Also left to celebrate her memory are 8 grandchildren,17 great grandchildren, and multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins.

January 8, 2003 is one of the most significant and impactful days in Joanne’s life. Her son Gordy, was tragically killed in her Lucky Lake home. A piece of her died that day; the loss was so massive it changed her and their entire families DNA. The burden a mother carries when she loses a child stayed with her until her last breath and the family are now comforted that this burden has finally been relieved.

But as with all strong women, there was so much more to her than tragedy and she found joy in every day and in every way possible. She was the most positive person her family knew. She was the glue that kept her family of origin and her own family connected. Above all else, was her family!

A Celebration of Joanne’s life will be held Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 1:00PM at New Horizons (117 3rd Ave West, Biggar, SK)