Celebration Service Held for Melsie Waldner

She was well known throughout the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) for her work on numerous committees, boards and commissions.

Waldner chaired the Constitution Revision Commission that produced the revised Constitution and Bylaws adopted during the 116th Annual Meeting in Rosemont, Illinois. The accompanying photo was taken during her presentation to delegates attending last year's meeting.

The family suggests memorials be directed to one of the following organizations, making certain to note that the gift is in memory of Melsie Waldner and noting the name and address of her husband, Jerry, at 415 Perreault Lane in Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7K 6B5:

• Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, Provincial Office, 279 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7K 2H8
• Saskatchewan Division of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, 150 Albert Street, Regina, SK, Canada, S4R 2N2

Waldner was born in Brockington, just north of Melfort, Saskatchewan, on June 30, 1941. She enjoyed a strong Swedish heritage and was fluent in the language. In 1962, she graduated from the School of Nursing at University Hospital. She was a part of the Covenant Youth Caravan for Christ, went to Bible College in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and was director of an extended care facility, the Baptist Haven of Rest. She returned to Saskatoon where she served as a nurse in the emergency services area.

In 1967, she became Coordinator of Volunteer Services at University Hospital. In 1992, the position as director of spiritual care was added to her portfolio. She also served similar roles with the Saskatoon District Health. In June 1993, she became the first recipient of the Tony Dagnone Spirit of University Hospital Award.

Waldner was a pioneer in developing the concept of volunteer management in Canada, serving as the first president of the Canadian Association of Volunteer Resources. She demonstrated her belief in volunteerism through her service on numerous committees, including Friendship Inn, United Way, Food Bank, Meewasin Valley Authority and Saskatoon Humanitas. She was an organizer of Royal University Hospital anniversary celebrations and other events. She retired in 1997, but her volunteer drive never stopped. She continued working as an independent volunteer resources management consultant.

She was a charter member at College Park Covenant Church. For more than three decades she participated in a variety of ministries, including Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, musician, soloist and hospital visitation.

Melsie married Jerry Waldner on May 21, 1966, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, at the Covenant Church on Bemister Street. Melsie and Jerry celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary this year. The couple enjoyed time spent at their cabin at Lower Fishing Lake - the cabin was built by Melsie's father and painted by her mother. She is well known for her vivacious publications and creative original poetry.

She loved entertaining, especially during Christmas and St. Lucia. She also was a fan of garage sales - a number of collections arose in part from those sales, including such items as rolling pins, the Royal Collection, Raggedy-Ann dolls and clowns. She took pride in displaying her various collections.

Waldner was a gifted musician, so much so that she and Jerry named their daughter Melody, who with her husband, Tony, resides in Melfort. The couple's son, David, lives in Saskatoon.

Melsie was preceded in death by her mother, Agnes Larson (Holmstrom); her father, Otto Larson; and a brother, Vernell Otto.

Without question, a highlight of Waldner's volunteer work with the Covenant was development of the revised Constitution and Bylaws adopted in 2001. She described passage of the revised Constitution and Bylaws as the culmination of a labor of love.

"I've had many privileges in my life," Waldner said at that time. "The privilege of chairing the Constitution Revision Commission - working with that incredible caliber of committed people - has been the joy of my life. Service privileges come and go, but this one has really brought me more gratification than anything."

"Her love for and commitment to Christ, and her love for and commitment to the church were an incredible thing to watch," ECC President Glenn Palmberg said. "I'm glad as I reflect on her life that she had that experience with the constitution because I know that it meant a great deal to her - and her influence will continue in this denomination for a long time to come."

"She was the hardest working person I served with on any board," said Bill Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who served on the Constitution Revision Commission with Waldner. "She had an amazing attention to detail and she was incredibly dedicated to the Covenant and its purposes."

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