1937-2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lil Sokal of Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, at 86 years of age. She passed after a short illness with family and friends by her side during her journey.
She is survived by her daughter, Kim Link (husband Greg), son Grant Sokal (wife Donna); grandchildren Rachel (Matty), Mitchell (Emilia), Grace (Jaden), great grandchildren Charlotte and Lincoln, and brothers Wes (Sylvia), Les (Muriel) and Garry (Kathy) Jeske and brother-in-law Ervin Sagert. She was predeceased by her husband Paul, grandson Michael Link, parents, Bill and Della Jeske, and sisters Sarah Knispel, Ann Higgs, and Ruth Sagert.
She was born in Minitonas, Manitoba where she spent her early years helping on the family farm and helping raise her young brothers.
She moved to Winnipeg as a teenager where she found employment in the Valley Room at Eaton’s downtown. In 1961 she caught the eye of a striking young man after a baseball game. A year later Paul and Lil were married and in 1963 they started their family. They made their first family home on Belmont Avenue and soon moved to beautiful East St Paul in 1967. They were a formidable pair raising their children side by side, working alongside each other at their trailer making business of Sokal Industries and building their dream cabin in Lac du Bonnet in 1979.
She loved her kids and their friends from Rebeck Road, her plentiful garden, and their yearly camping trips from Montreal to the Rockies in dad’s homemade motorhomes. She curled at the East St. Paul Curling Club for over 40 years dating back to when Kim and Grant were young enough to be babysat at the club while she curled.
After Paul’s passing, she fulfilled the dream they had together, and moved to the cabin in Lac du Bonnet in 2010.
She was a great mom, grandma, great grandma and friend. We will miss her famous quilts that are cherished by many, and her always present potato salad and carrot cake.
We would like to thank the staff of the hospitals of HSC, Pinawa, St. Boniface, Selkirk and Seven Oaks. She had quite a journey the past five months and there are many in the health care system that we are very thankful for. If you wish to donate, please consider a contribution to the St. Boniface Foundation (specifying Registered Nurses Alumni) at www.stbhf.ca
A Celebration of Lil’s life will be held on Thursday, September 28 @ 2 pm, at Glen Eden, 4477 Main Street, West St. Paul, MB. Interment and reception to follow.
Friends and family are invited to share memories and condolences on Lil’s memorial page by using the comment field below.