Dorothy Marion (Gardiner) Weismiller

Dorothy Marion Weismiller, a prolific Ponoka writer of short stories and poetry, died Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the age of 88 years. 

Dorothy was born in Coronach, Saskatchewan July 15, 1935, in the midst of the Great Depression. Despite the many hardships she endured, she was proud of her Prairie background which she believed shaped her life. 

She married Donald Weismiller in August 1953, and they moved to Ponoka, Alberta, where they raised five children. 

Dorothy worked as a unit clerk at Alberta Hospital in Ponoka and took creative writing courses at Red Deer College and Lakeland College. She was an accomplished writer; many of her poems and stories were published in literary magazines, as well as several newspapers. 

For many years, she wrote articles as well as a Seniors Demeanour column for the Ponoka Herald and the Ponoka News. She was a founding member of the Ponoka Word Weavers Society and won many writing awards. 

She coached young, aspiring writers in her home - her greatest joy aside from her own beloved children and grandchildren came from sharing her writing passion by mentoring schoolchildren. She was an avid volunteer in the Ponoka community and a faithful parishioner of St. Augustine's Church for over 50 years. 

Dorothy is survived by her children Debbie (Darcy), Judy (Francis), Grant (Gerry), Jill (Ben) and Wendy; grandchildren Lee (Danielle), Matthew, and Cole (Danica); Jesse and Shane, Bryan (Tannis), Kathleen (TJ), Nicole (Adam), Amanda, Scott (Andrew), Daryl (Pamela), and Nicole (Mark); as well as 11 great-grandchildren. 

She was predeceased by her husband Donald (2005); parents Elizabeth and Edward; and her brother, George. 

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Augustine's Catholic Parish in Ponoka on Saturday, October 28, 223 at 11:00 a.m. (livestream link located below).

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Dorothy’s name may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta. 

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