LENA SEMLER

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lena Semler at the Riverview Health Centre, Winnipeg on June 21, 2025 at the age of 98 years.

Lena is survived by her daughter Margaret; son Rick (Cindy); granddaughters, Nikki (Bryan Thompson) and Alysha; great-grandsons, Ezra, Marcus, and Lucas; great-granddaughter Snow; brother Eddy Yarycky; sisters, Rosie Okrainetz and Shirley (Bob) Hanson; sister-in-law Linda Yarycky; brother-in-law Mike Tzupa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Gus on April 21, 2004; parents Fred, Annie and step-mother Mary Yarycky; parents-in-law Fred and Berta Semler; brothers Lawrence, Mike and Tony Yarycky; sisters Gena Tzupa and Minnie Andrusiak; brothers-in-law Paul Okrainetz, Nick Pobihuschy, Adolf Semler and Nick Andrusiak; sisters-in-law Olga Semler, Jessie Yarycky, Mary Yarycky and Velma Pobihuschy; nieces, Shelly Johnston and Cathy Yarycky; and nephew Brian Yarycky.

Lena was born on March 18, 1927 in Stenen Saskatchewan to Fred and Annie Yarycky. She was the 3rd of several children. When Lena was six years old, her mother passed away. This sad event brought many challenges to the young child.

In 1947 Lena moved to Swan River, Manitoba where she met Gustav “Gus” Semler, her future soul mate and life partner.  They married in 1950 and moved to the Semler family farm in the Egremont School District. Here she raised two children and worked on the farm along with Gus, her father-in-law Fred and mother-in-law Berta.  Lena loved all aspects of farm life, including maintaining a large vegetable garden. Following the passing of her mother-in law Berta in March 1972, Lena welcomed her father-in-law Fred back to the farm.  Lena was his primary caregiver until his passing in 1974.

Lena enjoyed painting and many family homes were decorated with her paint brush.

After Gus’ death in 2004 Lena continued her life on the farm. If you can say that Lena ever retired it was in December of 2006 when she began a new chapter in her life, selling the farm and moving into the Valley Lodge Apartments in Swan River.  She spent eight years enjoying her apartment, spending many hours tending to a smaller version of her garden, growing flowers, cucumbers and tomatoes.  She enjoyed working on puzzles and visiting with her many friends in the apartment complex. Following a fall, Lena moved to her daughter Margaret’s home in Winnipeg in May 2014.

In October 2016 Lena moved into Riverview Health Centre.  She spent many happy hours participating in activities and was still working until the end of May 2025, often busily folding laundry for the staff.

Lena was a very kind, loving, loyal and generous person.  Her home was always open to family and friends for a friendly lunch, or coffee and freshly baked treats.  Lena’s manner was quiet and gentle, she loved to laugh, and she continually put others ahead of herself.   

She developed friends quickly and had life-long friendships. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and kept her connection with them even during the difficult COVID years.

Lena also had a great love of animals. In addition to farm animals, cats and dogs were always an important part of her farm life. Unwanted cats and dogs dropped off on the side of the highway were lucky ones indeed when she found them. While living in her apartment Boris, the apartment cat, would hop onto the seat of her walker to take hallway rides. Margaret’s cats, Toots, Streak and Beamer, were part of her home life in Winnipeg.

A long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she enjoyed the fellowship of her friends at teas and quilting events.

The Semler family would like to express our gratitude to the staff and residents of Riverview D3 for the many years of kindness, care and compassion. Your extraordinary care made a huge difference in her life. She considered you all family.

Her family also thanks Palliative Manitoba volunteers for their many days of compassionate care.

Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will take place at a later date.

Lena’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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