In Memory of Joan Flegel (1956

Joan was born on September 3, 1956, in Regina, Saskatchewan. She studied at the University of Regina, where she met Stewart Flegel. They married on August 12, 1978, and began their life together in Saskatoon, welcoming Lindsay, Mark, and Caitlin into the world. In those early years, Joan worked at the credit union while Stewart completed medical school.

In 1992, the family moved to Rugby, North Dakota. Joan poured herself into family life while Stewart practiced as a family physician. She remembered the old downtown stores, the community life, and the many hours spent sewing costumes for Halloween and community plays.

In 1995, they moved to Sterling, Colorado, where Stewart practiced as an emergency room physician and Joan opened The Apple Grove, a custom framing shop featuring local artisan wares. The Sterling years were a gift Joan often reminisced about: weekends around the fire at Lake McConaughy, and the annual road trip to the Okanagan for the houseboat with Bill and Kendra Flegel. Over the years, Joan opened her home to many a winter-weary Flegel, and in the years after her mother's passing, had a particular fondness for Stewart's mother, Verna.

Joan at The Apple Grove, Sterling, Colorado, 1995 — The Apple Grove, Sterling, Colorado, 1995.

Stewart's sudden passing in 1999 left Joan and the kids heartbroken. The family moved to Calgary, where Joan rebuilt her life and formed lasting friendships. She found a companion in Andy Shewchuk, and together they co-founded City Probe, a local magazine Joan edited, work that matched her curiosity and intelligence. She never stopped loving Stewart. Long after he was gone, she kept him present, in conversation and in the qualities she saw in her children.

Her love showed up in practical ways, thoughtful ways, and her own unmistakably funny way.

Joan was a mother who stayed close. She checked in with a quick text or a call, genuinely interested in the lives of her children and grandchildren and proud of the people they were becoming.

Joan passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on January 20, 2026. Lindsay, Mark and Caitlin would like to thank Southwood Hospice for their care and support. In keeping with her wishes, her body was donated through the University of Calgary Body Donation Program to support medical education.

She is lovingly remembered by her children Lindsay (Jeff) Johnston, Mark (Mona) Flegel, and Caitlin Flegel; her grandchildren Zara and Leon; her brother Brad (Bev) Wagar; her sister Brenda Mark; Stewart's siblings Richard (Joanne) Flegel, Bill (Kendra), Jennifer (Don); her dear friend Andy Shewchuk; and many extended family members and friends whose lives were better for knowing her.

Submitted by Andy Shewchuk

Little Miss Chievous

I loved Joannie's mischievous sense of humour.

She loved cards: Bridge, Hearts, Euchre, 500. She always kept a couple of decks tucked inside "Happy," her purse, just in case a card game broke out. And with Joannie around, one usually did.

One afternoon in Radium Hot Springs, half a dozen of us were on the deck when someone suggested poker. Out came the card table, cold beers appeared, and there was just one problem: Joannie had never played. So we wrote down the winning hands and taught her the rules. Nickels, dimes, and quarters. Serious money.

After a couple of hours we took a break. Some were up a few dollars, some were down. When we sat back down, it was Joannie's deal. She began shuffling when she knocked her lighter to the floor, bent down to pick it up, popped back up, and kept dealing. By the end it was down to Joannie and Judy, the pot nearly five dollars.

Judy laid her cards down first: three jacks. A very good hand. Then Joannie slowly laid hers down. Four kings.

And that's when Joannie started laughing. Between giggles she produced a second deck from the bench beside her. While we were off getting beers, she had quietly stacked a winning hand and swapped decks when she "dropped" her lighter.

The entire table burst out laughing. Joannie gave everyone their money back, but she kept the story, and the laughter, going for months. From that day on: "Little Miss Chievous."

Somewhere, I like to think that Joannie is still shuffling a deck of cards, smiling her clever smile, and getting ready to deal herself another winning hand.