Obituary of Doreen Walline
Jennie "Doreen" Walline
(April 20, 1934 - February 6, 2024)
Jennie Doreen Streberg was born on April 20, 1934 to Seth “Alfonse” & A. Irene Streberg in Meeting Creek, Alberta. She passed away at Daysland Health Centre on February 6, 2024 at the age of 89 years.
Doreen was baptized and confirmed at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Meeting Creek.
Doreen grew up on the farm near Meeting Creek. Her earliest memory was of her uncle Sig, her mother’s brother, telling her that on the day of her birth, her dad, Alfonse, came riding to his place on “Old Joe” the horse, to tell him; “The wheat is in the ground and I have a baby daughter!” She had fond memories of riding horseback to Hazel Grove school. In the winter, the five kids would take a team of horses and a cutter to school. Doreen attended Meeting Creek school after Hazel Grove closed and finished her formal education at Camrose Lutheran College in 1952.
Having completed a Commercial Course at CLC, Doreen started bookkeeping work at various businesses. While working and boarding in Daysland, she met Harry Kuntz and this chapter began. Doreen and Harry were married at Emmanel Lutheran Church in Meeting Creek on June 27, 1954. They became parents to sons; Doyle, Tom, James, Norman and Raymond. Harry was driven and worked many jobs: seismic drilling, farming, business owner and ending with federal politics. Doreen was working right alongside him, bookkeeping in the home office, as well as handling “Her Boys” and all their friends. The Kuntz home was always busy with many an orphan brought home by a son, four legged or two legged it did not matter. All were welcome. She was known as “the wrestler lady” by the neighborhood kids, for her ability to deal with rambunctious kids.
Mother Doreen was also active in the community. Bowling, curling, singing, church events and supporting all her boy’s and Harry’s activities.
After the sudden death of Harry, in Ottawa, while serving as our local Member of Parliament, in 1973, Doreen took on the daunting task of handling the various businesses, as well as five young and teenage boys. At this point she had more than 100 employees to care for. As the boys were not old enough to run or did not want careers in any of the businesses, they were sold or shut down. Only Harry’s farm operations were continued with the boys in charge. Driven like their father, the boys went on to farm on 52 quarters at one point and 800 cows at another point. Always with the full support of Mom.
With her extended family, friends and United Church family supporting her, Doreen continued on.
Once all the family businesses were dealt with and the boys were off farming, away at school, or off pursuing a new career, Doreen continued working doing bookwork for various businesses. Since her big house was empty, Doreen started taking in international students and hockey players. First mainly Hong Kong students but expanding over time to include students from various countries even medical students from Cameroon and Indonesia. Her boys nicknamed home the “Hong Kong Hilton” and took great pleasure in taking these students for farm tour adventures. Later when Bob joined the household, they opened their home to host Hutterite friends and others with family that were patients in St. Mary’s Hospital.
In 1979 a serious accident brought son, James, home to be near a hospital. In a matter of months James and Doreen were involved in a heavy-duty mechanical business that went on to become Kuntz & Kramer Services Ltd. This business expanded from Camrose to Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary over time with Doreen overseeing payroll and accounts payable. At its peak there were over 130 employees many of whom called her “Mom”.
One day outside the Camrose Post Office, Doreen ran into an old acquittance from her youth, Robert Walline. They had a great visit on the sidewalk, catching up and discussing mutual friends. Before long they were meeting for coffee and attending social events together, in other words dating.
Doreen married Bob Walline on November 10, 1984 and became a great friend to Bob’s children; Barry, Kathy, Ric, Nancy and Margaret. The large number of Walline siblings and children really expanded and enriched Doreen’s extended family life. This marriage was a well-balanced one, with each of them maintaining their personal jobs and interests while adding a very broad range of shared interests and activities. Both Doreen and Bob were strong additions to each other’s massive circles of family and friends. For the first 25 years of the marriage, each year they embarked on a major trip somewhere in Canada, the USA or the rest of the world. Once both were retired the trips became longer and more extensive. Gardening and puzzle making together at home was also enjoyed.
Doreen was a traveler all her life. As a child her family would load up the car and drive to California to visit family. Doreen and Harry honeymooned in Vancouver and went to Expo 67 in Montreal, driving a new car back for someone. In 1973 she and three sons traveled by train to Ottawa to see Harry, but had to return by military aircraft due to a rail strike. Traveling with her: mother, aunts, sons, friends, grandchildren, in-laws, and Bob, some of the places she has been include: all over Canada, & USA, St Pierre & Miquelon, England, France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Panama Canal Cruise, New Zealand, Australia three times, Mexico three times and Sweden at least five times.
Doreen loved to sing; whether it was in the church choir, Golden Tones or just around the house. One of her greatest memories of her childhood was singing “Cowboy” songs with her dad. The church choir was the source of her faith and strength as she faced all the challenges life presented her.
Doreen’s Camrose home was also her personal foundation. She moved there in fall of 1958 and lived there until she was hospitalized in September, 2023. The original house was quite small and tight with five boys, so in 1967, Doreen and Harry completed renovations to make room for all. This home was always a hive of activity, whether it was a hoard of neighborhood kids waiting for fresh Swedish flat bread from the oven, a family gathering, a birthday party, people dropping in to visit, a group marshalling to head off on some great adventure, or even just a friendly game of living room volleyball, the action never stopped. In the child raising years, Doreen worked at home which was very time consuming. So, she taught her boys to pitch in and be self-reliant. The first one home at noon had to make lunch for everyone. Everyone had chores and duties that had to be done before their own plans could happen. Doreen taught her boys and many a grandchild to cook, clean, wash clothes and dishes. It was a good thing that Bob liked to do dishes.
She was predeceased by her parents Seth Alfonse and Anna Irene Streberg originally of Meeting Creek; her brother Gerald and Sheila Streberg; her brother Otto Streberg; her sister June and Bob Agrey; her sister-in-law Irene Streberg; and her beloved first husband Harry M. Kuntz.
She is survived by her husband Robert Walline; brother Dennis Streberg (Muriel); and sister-in-law Marlene Streberg.
Remembering their mother with love are Doreen’s Kuntz sons Doyle (Laura), Tom (Melanie), James (Romonda), Norman (Sofie), Raymond (Helene); Bob’s children Barry Walline, Kathy McMullin (Doug), Ric Walline (Ted), Nancy Walline, Margaret Walline (David); and a multitude of friends around the world who call Doreen “Mom.” Many were international students or athletes who lived in her home over the years. Numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews can look to Grandma’s life as an example of unconditional love, compassion, common sense, voice of reason, tolerance, determination and profound charity.
The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care of the staff of St Mary’s Hospital in Camrose and of The Daysland Health Centre.
A celebration of life was held 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2024 at the CityLights Church, 4920 48 Street Camrose, officiated by Alan Richards. The service was livestreamed and can be viewed at the following link: CityLights Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Battle River Community Foundation for the Robert and Doreen Walline Fund, the Harry M. Kuntz Memorial Fund, S. Alfonse and A. Streberg Family Fund or charity of your choice.
