Cochrane Country Funeral Home

December 13, 1936 Grande Prairie, Alberta – May 14, 2021 Calgary, Alberta

Jonina (Nina) Dorothy Holtsbaum passed away peacefully at home on May 14^th, 2021. In her final weeks, Nina was surrounded by Brian, her loving husband of 61 years, and her family.

Her passion was raising her three surviving children Cheryl (Jeff) Boutilier, Janell (Erle) Gillespie and Bill (Michele) Holtsbaum. Her grandchildren, Paul (Angele), Trevor (Nikki), and Taylor Boutilier, Blake and Alec Holtsbaum, Katie and Cameron Gillespie, and great grandchildren Rudy, Leo, Rowan, and Aubrey Boutilier brought her much pride and joy.  Nina is also survived by her sister Annette (Clark) Johnston, brother Brian (Carol) Gudmundson and, her nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

Born in Grande Prairie AB but growing up in Vegreville AB, she fondly remembered childhood summers in the local pool becoming a great swimmer. Later she moved to Edmonton with her family where she finished high school and after some nursing training, choose administrative work.

Nina and Brian met in Edmonton and married on February 27, 1960. In 1963, with a young family, they moved to Calgary to begin a new chapter where she supported the start of a new company.  Later Nina and Brian moved to an acreage west of Calgary to continue raising her family, embraced country living, and enjoyed many pets and horses while growing vegetables and flowers.

As a community volunteer over the years, she enthusiastically worked with the Girl Guides organization, local schools, and at many Springbank Park for All Seasons functions, including serving as Secretary for Springbank Minor Hockey.

With the family grown she cheerfully sacrificed vegetable gardening for golf. She was an original member of the Redwood Meadows Golf and Country Club where she volunteered in the Ladies group and won the title of Senior Ladies Champion in 2008. Winter found her in ladies and mixed curling at the Springbank Park for All Seasons.  Golf and curling to her were a means of enjoying time with her friends.  Her lifelong hobby was sewing, making clothes, creating costumes for her children and grandchildren or purses for charity and later quilting.

Nina shared a zeal for travel and with Brian they explored Canada, USA and more than 25 countries including cruises through the Panama Canal and Alaska plus sailing in Greece. These travels were often with friends and golfing along the way. She enjoyed meeting new, now long-time, friends during their journeys including her year as a First Lady of NACE as well as her trips to Stratford ON or BC with the gals.

Nina’s quiet and compassionate demeanour cloaked an incredible inner strength. As a shy person, she recognized timidness in other people and, if she saw someone standing alone in a room, she would approach and invite the person to join her group of friends. Years later she was still remembered by those persons for her thoughtfulness.

Nina was the heart of our family, bringing us together, creating many wonderful memories. Kind and sincere, she celebrated her family’s’ accomplishments and supported us through our challenges. When it was difficult to speak, she would show her appreciation with a sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes and her genuine smile.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Mary Noilles and the Cochrane Home Care staff for their caring support making it possible to fulfill Nina’s wish to remain at home.

A celebration of life will be held at the Springbank Heritage Club, 244168 Range Road 33 (north of Springbank Park for all Seasons) on July 24th, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to research of arthritis, dementia (Alzheimer’s) or a charity of your choice will be appreciated.

Arrangements entrusted to Florence (Flo) Simpson, Funeral Director
Cochrane Country Funeral Home – Ph: 403-932-1039