Katherine Jean Sloan

It is with deep sadness we announce that Katherine Jean Sloan, nee Wigle, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 24, 2025, at Granite Ridge Retirement Home, Gravenhurst, ON at the age of 88.

Kathy was born on February 7th, 1937, in Windsor, ON. The second oldest of eight children to John and Jean Wigle. She was predeceased by her son Malcolm “Mackie” Sloan (1964), sister Dorothy Pellow (2015), brother John Wigle (2024), nephew Garreth Wigle (2000), companion Don McDougall (2012) and ex-husband John Sloan (2024). She is lovingly survived by her daughter Mary (Logan) Craig, son Murray (Myra) Sloan and two cherished grandsons Logan Sloan and Tyler Sloan. She will be sadly missed by her sister Mary (Roy) Harvey, brothers: Don (Beth) Wigle, Jim (Janine) Wigle, Bob (Cara) Wigle, and Bill (Bonnie) Wigle. Also, lovingly remembered by many special nieces/nephews, grandnieces/nephews and great grandnieces/nephews.

Kathy grew up and attended school in London, ON. There, she attended London Teachers’ College obtaining her diploma in teaching. After living in Grimsby, ON, Phoenix, AZ, Miniota, MN and Birtle, MN, Kathy firmly planted her roots in Fort Qu’Appelle, SK where she lived for 53 years. During that time in the Fort, she raised a family, taught at various schools (K-6) for 19 years. While teaching, she completed her Degree of Education (1980) from the University of Regina. After her teaching career, she worked at Indian Affairs and retired in 1998.

Kathy loved the Qu’Appelle Valley and devoted much of her time to St. Andrews United Church as a member of the congregation and UCW. She was so dedicated that she would take the tea towels home after church gatherings and wash/dry and iron them before returning them back to the church. While in the Valley, Kathy met her long-time companion, Don McDougall. Don and Kathy loved to travel to Phoenix during the cold winter months. Kathy became part of Don’s family which included Doug (Rosemarie), Cameron (Inga), and Tom (Kathi). She became “Grandma” to Don’s grandkids and shared many wonderful memories with the McDougall family. Kathy was part of an exclusive “girl’s group” that went for coffee at the Bakery, breakfast at A & W, KFC Toonie Tuesday, and dinners out at Katepwa Beach. Kathy’s activities included: gardening, playing solitaire, and making puzzles. She was a master baker!! She would arrive at Mary/Murray’s houses with frozen cookie dough, lemon butter tarts and vegetables from her garden and then make angel food cake, chocolate cake, buns and cinnamon buns.

Our Mom “formerly known as Kathy” felt in her next album of life that she was mature enough to be called “Katherine”. This occurred in 2021, when she moved to Gravenhurst, ON and into Granite Ridge Retirement Home to be closer to her daughter, Mary and husband Logan, who provided constant loving support and care throughout her stay. She attended most in-house activities but especially loved the church services, music events, exercise classes, bingo and doing word searches. She loved to get chocolate milkshakes, go to Mary and Logan’s to watch the birds, squirrels and chipmunks and have her favourite meal which included ginger beef, corn on the cob and a Haagen-Dazs ice cream bar. Katherine looked forward to her nightly calls from her sister Mary who would remind her to tune into the TV channel with Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

It was Katherine’s wishes not to have a memorial service, which we will respect. There will be a small family gathering to celebrate Katherine’s life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to Amnesty International, who she wrote many letters for, Fort Qu’Appelle Echo Lodge Auxiliary or a charity close to your heart in Katherine’s memory.

Amnesty International: //giving.amnesty.ca/

Fort Qu’Appelle Echo Lodge Auxiliary