Joan Carole Gower

Joan Carole Gower (née: Hamre) passed away on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 at the age of 89 years, after a short stay in hospice care.  

Joan was born on March 20th, 1936, to Harry and Ruby Hamre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.  As a child of a Royal Bank manager, she spent her childhood moving to different towns and cities and had many fond memories of the friends she met and communities she lived in along the way.  

Joan’s parents moved to Craik, SK in 1951 and she completed her high school there.  She met and later married Ronald Ivan Gower on July 1st, 1955 at the Craik United Church.  They went on to raise their three children in Craik as well as running the family hardware store on Main Street.  Joan became the SGI Motor License Issuer for Craik for a time, as well as being a full-time homemaker.  

Joan was involved in many community and church groups, including the UCW, Order of the Easter Star, L.O.B.A., Willing Workers and spent many years leading the United Church Choir and singing with the Sweet Adelines and her Sweet Adeline Quartet group she helped form.  She loved spending time each summer at the family cabin at Emma Lake as well as travelling with Ron when time allowed, making memories in Hawaii and Florida.  She also travelled to Tanzania for a family visit and Safari that she really enjoyed, as well as travelling to see family in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia.  

In the fall of 2020, Joan moved into Westminster Care Home in Regina, SK where she happily lived as a resident until recently, when health concerns had her moved to Grace Hospice.

She was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Ruby Hamre; husband, Ronald Gower; and brother, Douglas Hamre.  Joan is survived by her children: Colleen (Allen) Spencer, David (Christine) Gower, and Bruce Gower; grandchildren: Steven (Jennilee) Spencer, Keith (Kadria) Spencer, Nicholas and Jayden Gower, and Brice (Flor) Gower and Brick and Shayla Gower; as well as great-grandchildren: Fayth and Brandt Spencer, Aidan and Kieran Spencer; as well as many other family and friends.

The family wishes to send out a huge Thank You to all the staff at Westminster Care Home in Regina for all the love and care they provided Joan during her last few years, as well as staff and doctors at Pasqua Hospital and Grace Hospice in Regina who provided exemplary care in the last few weeks of her life.  

The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, June 23rd, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Craik United Church in Craik, SK.  Michelle Rohde will officiate, and lunch will be served at the Craik Community Legion Hall following the service.  A private family interment will take place in Craik Cemetery.  As an expression of sympathy, donations in Joan’s name may be made to Craik United Church, 440 1st Ave, Craik, SK S0G 0V0.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Michelle Ellis, Funeral Director 306-693-4550