POELKING: Donna Margaret (nee Baugh)
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April, 1943 鈥� May 16th, 2016
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Donna passed away peacefully with family at her side at the age of 73 in Victoria, B.C., after a hard fought battle against multiple myeloma. Donna was born in Regina and adopted by Mary and Gordon Baugh. Mary and Gordon traveled to Regina and with the help of a local doctor, saw Donna in the nursery and Mary declared, 鈥淭his will be my daughter.鈥� Donna had a wonderful childhood and truly enjoyed school, reading, and learning. As Gordon was a station agent, they lived in many towns across Saskatchewan. Donna moved to Saskatoon after graduation from high school in Kinistino. She started as a reporter/photographer with the Star Phoenix in 1962 and learned photography on the fly. This was an unconventional role for a woman in that era, and Donna was likely the first female reporter/photographer west of Toronto. Donna loved sharing the stories of others and she felt invincible when carrying her camera. She moved from reporting to circulation at the Star Phoenix, but later took it up again with the Humboldt Journal in the 1990鈥檚. Donna was a pioneer who broke gender barriers 鈥� she joined the 2nd Battalion North Saskatchewan regiment in 1968 and achieved the rank of lieutenant. Through the militia, Donna met and married Edmund Perkins in 1971 and later adopted their sons James and Robbie. Donna was a dedicated and loving mother who fiercely loved and adored her two boys. Donna met her 2nd husband Ferdinand Poelking while working as a reporter at the Humboldt Journal and they married in 1995. They enjoyed the rural lifestyle until 1998 when they gave up the cold prairie winters and moved to Victoria. Donna thrived in the retired lifestyle and travelled the world with Ferd. She also connected with her biological sister, Judy (Whiteman) Cornell and the Whiteman family. They shared a strong bond, as Donna had more than enough love in her heart for all her families. With Ferd鈥檚 care and support, Donna beat a first round of cancer only to find there was a second wave to be battled and complications took their toll. Donna鈥檚 smile, sense of humour, strong sense of equality, and passion for life will be dearly missed by her husband, Ferdinand Poelking, sons James Perkins (Nicole & granddaughter Tori) and Robbie Perkins (Dan Quinton), sisters Judy (Stu) Cornell (daughter Krista & granddaughter Trinity) and Christine Baugh (Leslie Papp), as well as relatives in the Baugh, Poelking, and Whiteman families and her many good friends. The family is grateful for the compassionate support and care of the staff and care providers of Victoria Hospice, Mt. Tolmie and Royal Jubilee Hospitals. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to direct donations to the Victoria Hospice (Victoriahospice.org) or Myeloma Canada (myelomacanada.ca). Funeral services to be held听 at 1 pm, Tuesday, June 7th, 2016 at Sacred Heart Church, Victoria, BC. Service conducted by Fr. David Hogman. Interment at Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria.
