GAIL LINDA ANN SIMPKIN-JOHNSON

Gail passed away peacefully on September 24, 2026, at River East Care Home, at the age of 80 with family holding her hand. She is lovingly remembered by George Johnson, her husband of 38 years; her sister, Susan Powell; her daughters, Kim (Guido), Lisa (Bryan), and Tracey (Stephen); and her grandchildren (oldest to youngest), Spencer, Mackenzie, Jordan, Lee, and Chazz; her three niece’s Melanie, Amber (Alex, Evie, Ella) Kerri-Ann (Glen, Jayden, Callum).

Gail was predeceased by her parents, William and Gladys Waller, Walter Simpkin (late husband); and her brother, Wayne Waller.

Gail was born and raised in Winnipeg. She started her hairdressing career young, met, fell in love with and married Walter. They brought 3 beautiful daughters into this world. Walter passed suddenly at a young age. Gail didn’t have an easy life right from childhood, but she was strong willed, stubborn and grew to be independent, and her great sense of humor all helped her to continue on after Walter passed. She had beautiful friendships and a love of travel too which helped her through her loss and healing. Her trip to England, with her friend Marsha is a trip that Gail held dear to her heart and remembered it with such joy.

Gail shifted careers and became an assistant buyer at the University of Manitoba bookstore where she met George. In 1988 Gail married George creating a new life together, they built a new home, a new cottage where the old one sat. They welcomed 5 beautiful grandchildren into their lives and started making new wonderful memories. Holding incredible Christmas mornings, with the most amazing breakfast for everyone, too delicious dinners, attending dance concerts, bar mitzvahs, first communions and so much more.

We were fortunate to have a cottage on the water in Kenora, Beauty Bay for nearly 50 years. This encouraged special memories for Gail's growing family to come together. The grand kids have fond memories of how grandma would deal the cards as everyone sat around the large dining table playing round and rounds of the card games 31 and 21! There are a lot of special memories, so much laughter and fun times.

Summer weekends and then eventually all summer Gail would spend her time suntanning on the deck reading her books, looking after her gardens, cooking amazing meals for family and friends, listening to great music, watching her favorite true crime shows and sleeping in late. We could never forget her being terrified of the chipmunks! Gail enjoyed the ballet, musicals, shopping, traveling, dancing, reading, painting, decorating, great music, chatting with her best friend Jan and talking about her travels and where she dreamed to go next. As dementia began to affect her later years, Gail increasingly found comfort in peace and solitude.

In Loving memory of a wonderful woman, may her soul be in internal happiness and may she find peace on her journey ahead. Gail will be forever in our hearts.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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