Josephine Grace Pankratz

Josephine was born in the Saskatoon hospital on October 24, 1925 to Jacob and Agnes Abrams of Mennon Saskatchewan.

She was the oldest of 6 siblings; Irvin, Leslie, Wilbert, Norma (Berndt) and Ron. The family lived in Mennon Saskatchewan for 22 years where her father was employed as a grain buyer.

Friends and family called her Josie and her Dad called her Jo.

Josephine took to the piano at an early age and excelled at it. The family would gather around the piano and sing hymns; it was a special and meaningful time for them. In her teen years she boarded with her Uncle Aaron & Aunt Annie in Laird so that she could complete her music degree with the Royal Conservatory of Music. She taught piano, worked at the Red&White store and washed floors to pay her way.

Josephine also sewed and styled hair. The pompadour hair style was very fashionable and she was good at using the curling irons heated on the stove to create the beautiful waves.

After the war, she met William (Bill) Pankratz. He was also a music lover and was charmed by Josephine’s talent. Courting included bringing her sheet music for the popular songs on the radio and her playing them for him and the family. Josephine had to pass the pastry test for Bill; which she did in spades, thanks to the secret ingredient her Mother added to the crust. Her little brothers would tease her with the popular ditty…’can she bake a cherry pie, Billy boy, Billy boy…” When Bill proposed to Josie, he promised that they would dance the Viennese Waltz in Vienna on their 25th wedding anniversary; they did!

Josephine and Bill were married October 4, 1947 In Osler Saskatchewan and moved on their honeymoon to Chilliwack BC. At first, they lived in an auto-court using wooden fruit crates for tables. Soon after they built a small grocery store with a house in the back on Watson Road near the Army base. Josephine ran the store and Bill was often out of town building houses in northern BC for the government. Their first son Norman was born on Dec 27, 1949 and Josie juggled motherhood, running the store and hosting many relatives visiting from the prairies. It was a busy life.

Gordon was born March 23, 1955. Bill continued his construction business and not long after started a lumber mill with his partner Ted Clegg; Pankratz & Clegg Construction and Milling. They settled in the town of Chilliwack on Armitage Street in the late 50’s. Bill’s parents and sister Agatha and her family joined them in the valley. Josephine’s brother Irvin, his wife Tilly, and their family also moved to Chilliwack just a couple blocks away. The six of them and their families were very close.

A daughter, Ellen, was born on April 8, 1962. Josie was making sure the house was clean and washing the floors…barely making it to the hospital on time. Mom and Dad Abrams and their youngest son Ron moved to Chilliwack that year. They were excited to spend time with their Grandchildren and enjoy the mild winters and fruit orchards. Sundays were always spent with them watching the Ed Sullivan Show, Glen Campbell and later the Lawrence Welk show…. And of course, having coffee and pie. Josie’s sister Norma eventually followed her parents to Chilliwack. Later Josie and Bill introduced her to her future husband, Helmut, who was working at the mill.

In 1963 they built a house next door on Armitage Street. Bill finished the house with specialty wood from the mill and made sure the kitchen counters were low enough for Josephine to use for baking. This would be the family home for the next 61 years.

Josephine started teaching piano again not long after. Her good friend Lena Hoff would watch Ellen until the boys got back from school. Josephine held piano recitals and took many students through their exams. A number of her students followed in her footsteps and became teachers. She played for church services, weddings and events and took organ lessons after Bill got her a Hammond organ in 1968.

Josephine and Bill attended the Mennonite Church on Alexander Street, then the Wellington Church and later the Eden Mennonite Church. Josephine was an active member of the congregation and enjoyed being part of the ladies groups.

Josephine was an expert homemaker and she was always ready to entertain guests including Bill’s business associates at short notice. Picnics were a regular event - at Cultus Lake, Harrison Hot Springs and the railway park in Agassiz. They always consisted of hamburgers, roll cookies, watermelon, potato salad, pickles, pie or plats, and coffee; all homemade of course. Bill loved to fish in the river and on the Sunshine Coast. They would camp at Half-Moon Bay and family and friends would often join. In the early 70’s Bill built a cabin cruiser, Skudaway, and they would spend many long weekends in Pender Harbour where the boat was moored. Josie and Bill had a close group of friends; amongst them were Pete and Elsie Dyck and Pete and Blondie Heppner along with Josie’s brother and sister-in-law Irvin and Tilly. They had many a dinner, ‘night-lunch’ and traveled to Hawaii and Mexico together.

Bill and Josie loved art and attended the Opera, Symphony concerts, and ballet. Bill loved jazz and they would drive to Vancouver to the Cave. They also took ballroom dancing and you could find them in the kitchen practicing the fox trot while dinner was cooking. They traveled to Europe for their 25th wedding anniversary; a wonderful experience.

Tragedy struck in May 1969. Norman was killed in a car accident. Josephine stopped teaching to focus on her family. The family was hit hard by the loss.

Bill sold the Mill in 1973 and decided to buy a farm in Saskatchewan as a ‘hobby’. Gordon and him were faming in Davidson when tragedy struck again and Bill passed away suddenly in July 1975 at just 56 years of age, leaving a young wife, daughter Ellen (13) and son Gordon (20).

Josephine carried on. She raised Ellen and continued to help run the grain farm with Gordon at her side. She began teaching piano again and taught until the late 80’s. She was still cooking, baking, sewing, knitting and gardening; whether she was in Chilliwack or Saskatchewan. She also always learning; taking cooking courses, tailoring classes and later computer courses. Her circle of music teachers and friends were always in our life; Margaret Pringle and Vivian Anderson, and her friend Joy Nelson. They would play cards, lunch at Joy’s lake home and go to concerts. They would also travel together. She also attended the Rose of Sharon Circle at Eden Mennonite and enjoyed the friendships there with Frieda Geisbrecht, Louise Cornelsen and others.

Josie was adventurous and traveled to Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and South America, Alaska, California, Vancouver Island and Hawaii. She traveled with her music teacher friends, her sister-in law Audrey Pankratz and cousin Ethel Abrams. She drove back and forth to the Saskatchewan farm for many years, and also explored all the places in the lower mainland that Ellen lived in including Kerrisdale, English Bay, North Vancouver, Surrey and White Rock. This was all before google maps too.

In May 1986 her mother Agnes passed away. Josie spent many evenings with her Dad keeping him company and watching hockey. Not ever interested in sports, she caught Canuck fever to everyone’s surprise and became an avid hockey fan.

Josephine welcomed two granddaughters late in life; Justine in 1999 and Lauren in 2002. No one was a happier Grandmother. Justine nick-named her ‘Grand-ma LaLa’ because she would often sing to her. Josephine would come out every Monday to be with Justine for her first 3 years when Ellen was at work. Lauren and her grandmother bonded over math and Ellen would frequently find them sitting together doing addition and subtractions. Both girls started their musical training at Grandma’s piano.

Josephine retired from farming in 2015 and stayed in the family home in Chilliwack; spending time with her brother Irvin and sister Norma, growing tomatoes, honing her skills on the computer, managing her home affairs and rental property…. and of course, cooking, baking, and knitting for her granddaughters. She kept her driver’s license up to 2021 with never a blemish on her record.

In 2019 Gordon retired from farming due to medical issues and moved in with her. Josie nursed him through surgery and Cancer treatment, and in turn Gordon took on many household chores. “Mom” was always greeted in the morning with fresh coffee and breakfast. Ellen made many trips to Chilliwack during these years and is so very grateful for the time she spent with her Mom and getting to know her big brother again.

Josie will be sorely missed and remembered with much love, admiration, and fond memories.

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Josephine Grace Pankratz

(nee Abrams)

Josephine passed away peacefully on Thursday May 4, 2023, in her home in Chilliwack, BC at the age of 97 years. She was born October 24, 1925, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Josephine, a loving mother, is survived by her children, Gordon Pankratz and Ellen Powell (nee Pankratz)

and grandchildren Justine Powell, Lauren Powell, sister Norma Berndt and brother Wilbert Abrams.

She was predeceased by son Norman Wayne Pankratz, husband William Pankratz, brothers Irvin, Les and Ron Abrams and parents Jacob and Agnes Abrams.

Josephine was a registered music teacher with the Royal Conservatory of Music for many years. She attended Eden Mennonite Church, was an accomplished musician, played piano/organ in the church and for many weddings & events. Josephine was active in supporting her husband’s business, Pankratz & Clegg Construction and Milling and managed the family farm in Davidson, Saskatchewan. She was an accomplished seamstress, knitter, cook and baker. She loved gardening and growing tomatoes and

was an avid Canucks fan. Smart, capable & independent. She was an inspiration and much loved.

Memorial donations may be made to the BC Diabetes Foundation @ bcdiabetes.org