Farmer, community activist.
Born at Winnipeg on 24 January 1918 to Augusta Amenda (1888-1989) and Julius P. Grabowski (1891-1962), she was the fourth of six daughters. She graduated from high school with honours and throughout her life valued education for herself and others. She lived most of her life in the Brunkild area, but took advantage of the cultural opportunities the world had to offer. After an eight-year courtship, she and William “Willie” Steinke (1909-1957) married in 1941. They first lived and worked together in the Province of Quebec, then returned to the farm. Following the sudden death of her husband, she chose to run the farm with her two teenage daughters, one of whom continued on as her farm partner until she retired in 1980.
Her long and dedicated career as an independent farmer earned her much recognition, including a nomination for the Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992. Always willing to speak her mind, she was an active participant in the Ladies Aid, the Brunkild Hall Board, the Progressive Conservative Party, and the Manitoba Pool Association (of which she was the first female director). In her later life, she was honoured by an appointment to the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board and served for several years in a downtown boardroom with pride and effect. Her interest in all things cultural, political, and agricultural continued to engage her until her very last day.
Although valuing frugality in her agricultural pursuits, she managed her resources in such a way that she could enjoy quality fashion, fine food, cultural events, opera, family celebrations, and benevolence. Her generosity was legendary. For many years, much of her leisure time was spent with a close friend, Herb Poersch. Due to her strong belief in the value of family, she organized picnics, baseball tournaments, and Grey Cup parties, and her bonfires were well known in the community. Cooking and gardening were passions that she shared and passed down to her family. She lived her life with integrity, Christian faith, and served as a role model for community service, family unity, and resourcefulness.
She died suddenly at home after a full day of gardening on 9 May 2007, and was buried in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.
Marriage registration [Augusta Amenda, Julius Grabowski], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Birth registration [Elsie Emma Grace Grabowski], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 2007.
“Elsie Emma Grace Steinke,” Singdomes-2017 Family Tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 2 November 2024
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