Joan (Cockrum) Nagyl was born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan on December 20, 1956, to Leo Euvon and Alta Joy Cockrum. Gloria, Sylvin and Lee welcomed her and she herself welcomed Shirl, Barry, Roger, Madge, Laura, Lorraine, Bonnie and Carol.

Growing up on the farm was where Joan learned the value of family, hard work and the dying art of learning to make your own fun. There are too many stories to tell of her mischievous antics and escapades! The adventures continued into adulthood.

In the late 70’s, Joan headed north to La Ronge at the invitation of her sister Gloria. There she met Norman, and a new chapter began. Joan and Norman’s home became a hub where many family members came to stay and work in La Ronge for both short and long periods of time. Not long after they were married, she acquired her private pilot’s licence, which allowed her to fly into the family cabin in Northern Saskatchewan. The family cabin remained a place Joan loved to be throughout her lifetime. Many memories were made there with both friends and family. She always kept herself busy in La Ronge with one or more of her many hobbies: baking, riding her dirt bike, picking berries, decorating cakes, organizing different fun events for her colleagues, singing, playing her guitar, accordion, or synthesizer, and frequenting her favourite coffee shop, Zesty’s, with her best friend Phyllis. Joan and Phyllis took many trips together and spent much of their summers at the ‘Fur-Buyer’ cabin on Lac La Ronge lake.

Joan and Norman raised four children in La Ronge: Jody, Johnathan, Lana and Kimberley. Having children never stopped Joan from seeking adventures. With her family the travelled to Disneyland, Cuba, Rider games, family reunions and even attended skateboard tours together! Through a lifetime of teachable moments, she instilled in them that hard work and perseverance would lead to success and reward. Joan had a “no-BS” attitude and was sure to let you know her opinion. On most issues, you knew where she stood. Her children, siblings and many nieces and nephews had a healthy respect for her because they all knew they would get a ‘what for’ if they didn’t.

Joan was the master of multi-tasking and detail and this came in handy doing secretarial work for government organizations during her lifetime. She was known to do a stellar job of the ‘behind the scenes’ work that made things on the surface go smoothly. Many colleagues would say she was the key to their success during their first days, weeks and months on the job. She loved what she did and cared for the people she worked with. She quietly and generously did what she could do to help the people around her succeed and was grateful to have ‘the best boss in the world’ (Ray McKay) during most of her years of service in La Ronge. Joan moved to Regina where she finished her service with the government, but not before having a brush with death. Joan was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, but miraculously pulled though by the hand of God much to everyone’s shock.

After retirement, Joan moved to Rapid View, Saskatchewan, close to her homeland of Meadow Lake and remained there during the last 10+ years of her life. It was here that her and her partner Les enjoyed home renovations, gardening, canning, camping, watching sports, picking berries and spending time with grandchildren, family, friends and their dogs. Recently, Joan had a short and hard bout with cancer again. On the morning of Thursday August 24th, at the Saskatoon Royal University Hospital, surrounded by family, Joan passed into eternity to be with Jesus.

Joan is predeceased by her parents Leo Euvon and Alta Joy Cockrum, her sisters-in-law Jo Cockrum and Glenda Cockrum, and her brother-in-law Preston Hewison. She is survived by her children Jody Nagyl (Neve Nagyl (Willow, Cedar), Navarro Nagyl), Johnathan and Kali Nagyl (Nova, Georgiana), Lana and Kenton Stobbe (Samuel, Theo, Gemma) and Kimberley Nagyl as well as by Joan’s partner Les Short and his children Chantel and Cam Heintz (Bennett, Sullivan, Quinn), Brendon Short (Avery), Robin Barrett (Trevor) and Jolene Thronberg as well as her siblings and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

A celebration of life will occur on Thursday, August 31st at 1:00 pm at the Meadow Lake Alliance Church in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

 

The service will be viewable online via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5-m9IyrAUQ

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Turning Point Youth Centre (contact Belinda at turningpointyouthcentre@gmail.com 1-306-281-6910) in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honoured to be entrusted with the care and arrangements of Joan Nagyl.

• Date : 2023-08-24
• Location : Saskatoon, SK