Obituaries

November 27, 1934 – December 8, 2025

Lynora (Nonie) was born November 27, 1934, in Banner County, Nebraska to George Edward and Helen May McGowan. Nonie was the third child of eight siblings. She learned to drive on the family ranch by age 8 and became her father’s driver when his health was poor. Her father bought her a piano, she took lessons from a neighbor, and she often said playing the piano brought her peace, her love of music lasted her entire life. While in high school she sang in the school and church choir and was the first cheerleader at her school to learn to do a cartwheel. She attended Scottsbluff Community College to obtain her teaching certificate and began her career as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse.

While finishing high school Nonie’s cousin had noticed a track star from a rival school and bet Nonie a milkshake she couldn’t get a date with him. The track star was Jerry who became the love of her life. They married on June 12, 1955, and started their married life in Kentucky where their daughter Beth Ann was born. After Jerry’s discharge from the Army, they returned to Nebraska and welcomed their first son Glen and a few years later the family was completed with the arrival of Kent.

Lynora worked as a substitute teacher, briefly as a nursing aide and a home-school teacher to children with disabilities.

In 1971, Lynora and Jerry decided to immigrate to Canada with their 3 children, her piano, horses, dogs and welcomed along Helen and Jackie - her widowed mother and oldest sister. They moved to their property in Vanderhoof in 1972 and lived “on the farm” the rest of their lives together.

Arriving in Vanderhoof, BC in August 1971, Lynora continued her career as a teacher first in Fort St James with middle school classes and finished her career at McLeod Elementary School working with and supporting Deaf/Hard of Hearing students. She retired at 62 following an illness.

Lynora taught piano to many students and enjoyed encouraging them to reach their potential in music. She also supported students who ran cross-country in the after-school program. She loved sports and could be found cheering on her children, grandchildren and her favorite sports teams either from the bleachers or from her chair in later life.

She was a woman of strong Christian beliefs. She loved her life on “the farm” and cherished the memories of the summer months she had with her grandchildren. A lover of flowers and hummingbirds, she was most content to play the piano and then sit on the porch or in her chair at the table and enjoy the beauty of nature.

She was a teacher who saw the potential in all her many classrooms, running and piano students. She supported many to go beyond what they thought they could achieve.

Lynora passed away at home with family at her bedside after losing her beloved Jerry.

Lynora was predeceased by her beloved Jerry (Gerald), her father George Edward, oldest brother Roger Lee, her mother Helen May, older sister Jacqueline Neola, younger brothers James Carter and Richard Duane. Her father-in-law Hershal Glen and stepmother Doris Van Winkle.

She was lovingly survived by her daughter Beth Ann (Mark) Derksen, sons Glen (Janey) Van Winkle, and Kent (Patty) Van Winkle; six grandchildren, Byron, Gerald (Stephanie), Gregory (Peggy), Grant (Allison), Lanaray (Christopher) and Jessica (Dylan) and nine great grandchildren. Her brother Ward (Karen) and sisters Patricia Ann and Judy Arlene.

Lynora was loved by her many nieces, nephews and extended family and those who called her friend, and she will be truly missed.

There will be a joint Celebration of Life for Lynora and Jerry it will be held on July 11, 2026, from 2pm to 5 pm at the Nechako Seniors Friendship Center, 219 Victoria Street East, Vanderhoof, BC