Joan Mary (Purkess) Manns

Mom left us on May 27, 2026 at the age of 68. She passed away peacefully in her home with family by her side.

She was welcomed into the world by her parents, Harry and Muriel Purkess (Wood) and sister, Sandra on January 1, 1958 in Carberry. She was crowned the New Year’s baby, Miss Carberry. Her brother,Terry, completed the family in 1961.

Mom grew up in Sidney, where she attended school until Grade 4 when the school closed. She finished her education in Carberry and graduated with honours in 1975. Following high school, she moved to Winnipeg to attend Marvel Beauty School. She began her hairdressing career on June 2, 1976 at Mildred’s Beauty Salon in Austin. She opened her own shop in her and Dad’s home in Sidney on September 4, 1977, called Joan’s Beauty Shop. She did her last haircut almost 50 years later, which was for her son, Richard, on April 25, 2026. Mom also worked at Pine Creek Residence in Austin for over 10 years until she chose to stay home and run “Grannie Daycare”, where she looked after her grandkids for 10 years.

Mom met Dad on July 1, 1972 at Austin’s Sports Day and started dating that fall. They were married on June 18, 1977. They welcomed Trevor Wayne on January 14, 1981, Richard Scott on October 23, 1982, and Jennell Faye on September 5, 1985 to their home they built themselves in Sidney. They moved 2 miles north of Sidney in April 1987 and welcomed David Troy on July 2, 1987. Mom and Dad lived on the farm until May 2025, when they swapped houses with Trevor and Stephanie in Austin.

Mom was a talented seamstress. She made her own prom dress, many bridesmaids, prom, and figure skating dresses, hemmed, patched, replaced zippers, and fixed countless seams. Mom enjoyed curling in her younger years before having back troubles. She loved camping, walking, reading, sitting in her big chair having a cup of tea, baking, puzzling, crafting and coffeeing with her friends, travelling to the mountains and Mexico, and any time spent with family, especially her grandkids.

Throughout the years, Mom was a member of the United Church of Canada and spent many hours dedicating her time to the United Church Women’s group. Countless hours making and serving pies and sandwiches for the museum booth and teaching Sunday School. Mom was on the Austin Skating Club board for many years and helped make many carnival nights possible. She also helped Dad with Saturday Hockey, which was a highlight for so many kids. Mom enjoyed being a member of the Sidney Cemetery Board and also mowed the grass for many years. She was very organized and everyone could count on her to know everything about the cemetery.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Muriel Purkess, and father and mother-in-law, Len and Beulah Manns (Hoover). Left to cherish so many beautiful memories is her husband of 49 years, Dennis, and their children,Trevor and Stephanie (Tomchuk); Blaike and Kacie, Richard and Janelle (Tomchuk); Harper and Pfeiffer, Jennell and Eric Hodge; Zevah, Sloan, and Kotaye, and David and Becky (Harrison); Hudson, Rhett, and Ledger, her sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Roy Manns and children, Steve & Gerri, Heather, Kristen & Kevin, her brother and sister-in-law, Terry & Marj Purkess and children, Chris & April, Courtney & Ben, Cody & Jacki, Cameron & Juliana, sister-in-laws & brother-in-law, Judy Manns and Bev & Tom ten Hove and children, Kristy & Tim, Kelly & Ricki, and Kara & Curtis. She will also be terribly missed by special friends, Gordon & Brenda Nelson, Georgette & Bryan Stewart, Ruth & Bernie Dueck, Bob & Nancy Nelson, Lois Jones, Betty Kleinsasser, and Coleen Hoeppner.