Obituary of Genevieve Burko

Una Genevieve Burko was born July 23, 1927 in the Grandy District of Saskatchewan, the only child of Gredmindura Johnson and Lára Sigurros (nee Nikuloson) Johnson.  She passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 21, 2023 in Regina, SK at the age of 96.

 

Genevieve attended Grandy School, completing Grade 9 and then Wynyard High School to complete Grade 12.   She graduated from Normal School in 1947 and taught at Shady Lorne S.D. at Bertwell, Springburn S.D. by Wynyard, Leslie Junior Room at Leslie School and later, Wynyard Elementary for many years.

 

Genevieve married Stanley Carl Burko on October 10, 1959. They had two children together, daughter Laura Lee (John) Fishscherer, grandchildren Johnathon and Stephanie; and son Morley Bryce (Johana) Burko, grandchild Asa Sigurros. Her cousins were Shirley Ann Lordal of Lloydminster, Sheila Carlson of Regina, Sylvia Frank of Edmonton, Don (Leona) Gislason of Toronto, and Ailon Gislason of Hazelton, BC as well as many close relatives in Iceland.  She dearly loved her husband of many years, along with her two children, their spouses and her grandchildren. Genevieve was predeceased by her dearly beloved parents Gredmindura Johnson in 1974 and Lára Johnson in 1979.

 

Genevieve was interested in all that pertained to her Icelandic heritage and culture. Icelandic, which she spoke fluently, was her first language.  Genevieve loved teaching and worked at that for many years, along with teaching Sunday School at the Wynyard United Church. She was a firm believer in God and Jesus, being baptized in the Lutheran faith. Genevieve was a lifelong member of the Rebekah Lodge and also belonged to the Friendship and Nightingale Lodges and took an active part in each. She tried to live up to the teaching of Oddfellowship.

Honouring her request, there will be no formal service.