Verna Willms
1936 - 2025
Verna Hilda Willms, beloved wife of the late Henry Willms, passed away peacefully in Taber on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at the age of 88 years.
Verna leaves to mourn her passing her children Doug (Delaine) Willms, Brenda (Darrell) Norris, Janet (William) Tymburski, Tim (Michelle) Willms and Laurie (Mike) Kees; eighteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Henry; parents David and Margaret Froese; siblings Margaret (Jos) Van Laarhoven, Nettie Froese, Mary Froese, David (Charlotte) Froese, John (Vera) Froese and twin brother Wilmer Froese; granddaughters Melissa Norris and Jolene Norris.
Verna was born on October 9, 1936 to David and Margaret Froese in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan. In 1937 she moved with her family to Coaldale. Verna attended high school at Alberta Mennonite High School where she met the love of her life, Henry Willms. After high school she trained to be a nurse at Galt School of Nursing in Lethbridge. After nursing in Calgary for a short time, she and Henry married in Coaldale on October 8, 1960 and moved to the farm in Grassy Lake where they farmed for over fifty years. Verna had a full life on the farm raising five children, gardening, sewing, cooking, baking, canning and even operating the combine at harvest time. She was also very involved in the Grassy Lake Mennonite Brethren Church, singing in choirs, organizing and helping in many different ways. Verna was well known for her flower arrangements cut from her own garden and graciously donated to the church and later, the Taber Hospital. Gladiolas were her favourite flower and were the centerpiece of most of her arrangements.
Over time her five children married and had families of their own eventually blessing Verna with eighteen grandchildren, each of whom she loved and adored.
Verna and Henry continued to farm until 2011 when they retired to Taber where Verna tried to keep up with her growing family which came to include twenty great grandchildren. Verna loved the time she could spend with each grandchild and great-grandchild. Whenever any one of them would visit, she never failed to bring out some delicious home-baked treats.
We will all dearly miss our mother, mother-in law, grandmother and great grandmother.
Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, September 26, 2025 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
The Burial Service was held at the Westview Community Cemetery of Grassy Lake (formerly the Mennonite Brethren Cemetery), on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 9:00 A.M.
The Celebration of Verna’s life was held at the Evangelical Free Church, 5431 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11:00 A.M.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Verna’s name may be made directly to the Taber and District Health Foundation, 4326 - 50 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1N9 www.tdhf.ca.
The family wish to thank the incredible staff at Taber Long Term Care for giving their mother such tender loving care.