Obituary of Marlene Harksen

Marlene Harksen  (Wagner)
August 29, 1939 - September 22, 2019

Marlene Harksen - proud sister, wife, mother, aunt, Godmother, grandmother, farm girl, collector of angels, administrator, world traveler, Honoured Royal Lady of the Order of the Royal Purple, cat lover, crocheter, gardener, scrapbooker and lover of a good joke - passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer at the age of 80. 

The people in Marlene’s life were numerous. She especially liked those who liked to share a joke, a coffee or a glass of wine. Marlene loved her parents Hilda and Raymond Wagner who raised her with her sisters, Marion and Beatrice, and her brother Vernon on a farm near Laporte SK.  Later, after moving to Saskatoon to attend business school, Marlene would spot a handsome furniture salesman named Bernie who she married. Bernie and Marlene had two daughters, Beth (Joe MacGillivray) and Debbie (Joel Regenstreif). Bernie and Marlene taught their daughters how to garden, camp, road trip, make relish, throw a great party, jive dance, and make the best toasted, open-faced cheese, bacon and tomato sandwiches in the world. Marlene had a fierce love for her granddaughter Greta Regenstreif and enjoyed every moment she spent with her, marveling at Greta’s artistic talent.

After Bernie’s passing in 1992, Marlene and her companion Adrian DeKievit travelled to almost every country in the world, sightseeing, enjoying exotic food (that did not contain mushrooms), and going on helicopter rides. Marlene had a great many cousins, nephews, nieces and other family that she made great efforts to keep in touch with, because she loved each and every one of them. Marlene had an abundance of friends. Some she met at work, others through the Elks and Royal Purple, the German Club Concordia, and more recently through her life at her condominium on Louise Street in Saskatoon. 

Professionally, Marlene was a great administrator and worked as the registrar at SIAST for many years. While she enjoyed her work, she also really enjoyed her very active retirement. Marlene excelled at a number of crafts, but particularly at crocheting and making homemade greeting cards. Marlene crocheted afghans for almost every niece and nephew she had...she tried her best to keep up with the great nieces and nephews until her hands became too arthritic to continue. While Marlene was not known for her cooking per se, her sweet and sour pineapple ribs, shortbread and ribbon squares were foods of legend. 

Marlene was grateful for the life she was given. In her last weeks Marlene wrote, “I am grateful for all of the wonderful people old and new who have entered my life…I am particularly grateful for my daughters and for my family members and friends who are carrying the same burden, yet putting aside their fears to bolster me.”

Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2019  at 3:00 pm  at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eatonia SK. A Celebration of Marlene’s life will follow at the Eatonia Community Hall.

Interment and  Celebration of Marlene’s life will take place in Saskatoon on  Monday September 30, 2019 at 3:00 pm  at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. . Those attending are asked to assemble at the cemetery entry at 2:45 pm for procession to the graveside committal which will be  followed by a gathering and refreshments.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to either Eatonia Oasis Living or Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility to honour the exceptional care Marlene and her family received during her final weeks.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kindersley Funeral Home and Saskatoon Funeral Home. 306-244-5577