Katherine Elizabeth (Colwell) Heilman

Mom was born in High River, Alberta, on October 26, 1946, to Clark and Betty Colwell. She had four older half-siblings — brothers Gordon and Bill, and sisters Florence and Lois — from her father’s first marriage. Her parents were busy running Colwell Cabins, a twelve-unit motel, along with a small café and service station that kept the family constantly on the go. Following Grandpa Clark’s passing, Grandma Betty married Warren Zimmerman. Mom and family loved spending time with Grandma and Warren at the Riverbend Ranch in Longview, Alberta.

Growing up in High River, Mom often said that volunteering was simply expected. Grandma and Grandpa were deeply involved in helping their community grow, and their family motto was: “Community service is the price you pay for the space you occupy.” Mom carried that belief throughout her life. She was always volunteering to help make Wilkie a better place to live, work, and play. An active Facebook user, she loved sharing community news and celebrating the accomplishments of others.

Mom met my dad, Don, at a party in Calgary in 1967 where, as she liked to say, “everyone was from Saskatchewan.” From their first date on, they were inseparable. They married in Calgary on November 25, 1967, and soon after moved to Wilkie, Dad’s hometown, where he worked for CP Rail alongside his brothers. Wilkie quickly became Mom’s home as well, and she was warmly welcomed into the Heilman family by my grandma, aunts, and uncles. Before long, Mom and Dad began raising their family: Charlene (b. 1968), Jud (b. 1970), and Donna (b. 1975).

Mom and Dad first lived in the apartments above the bowling alley, where they formed lifelong friendships. In 1969, they bought the house on 5th Street West — the home where they raised us and where Mom continued to live until 2022.

Mom was incredibly proud of her children and all that we accomplished, and she was overjoyed to see her family continue to grow. My wife, Leah, officially became part of the family on November 5, 1994 — even earning her own coffee cup, which she still has today. Mom welcomed her first grandchild, Myken Carew (b. 1996). Leah and I then welcomed Isabelle (b. 2001) and Georgia (b. 2004). Mom never missed an opportunity to share the accomplishments of her grandchildren with anyone who would listen. When Donna married Rob Stewart on June 4, 2016, Mom’s family grew once again. She often said how grateful she was that Don had the chance to meet Rob before his passing in 2012.

Mom treasured the many lasting friendships she built over the years and spoke of them often and fondly. She formed lifelong connections in her early years in Wilkie, through her work at the Wilkie Press, her time on town council, her many volunteer activities, and, more recently, within the Bethany community. Mom loved the quote “When God gave me friends, he knew exactly who I would need. Those friendships weren’t coincidences, they were gifts.”

Mom was a stay-at-home mom, caring for Charlene, Donna, and myself, until she began writing for the Wilkie Press Herald in 1980, a role she cherished and continued long past her retirement. She was an avid member of the community, serving on the Wilkie Town Council, as well as boards for the Wilkie Wheatland Library, Wilkie Hospital Foundation, and Wilkie’s bid for Kraft Hockeyville, among others. Mom was extremely honoured to be named Wilkie Citizen of the Year in 2011, the year of the Wilkie Centennial.

In Mom’s own words:

“My life has been full. I have not travelled the world, but I listened to the stories of those who did. I have been able to offer a shoulder to those who needed one, and they have offered one back to me — to cry on and to laugh on. I have always been able to connect with people — a gift that came from my Mom.

So, I have been blessed in that I had a good life, a full life, and I know with Don and all the family who are no longer here, I am not alone.

It’s time to say goodbye. Enjoy the party, tell tales, laugh lots, cry just a little, and know you have another Guardian Angel watching over you.”

Please join us for a celebration of Kathy’s life on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 a.m. at the Wilkie Community Centre Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to STARS Air Ambulance or the Wilkie Hospital Foundation.

The family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses, doctors, and staff at the Battleford Union Hospital for their exceptional care and compassion during Mom’s last days.

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