ALBA G. LAPP

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ALBA G. LAPP

Alba Gertrude Lapp (nee Dunnigan), formerly of Alameda, SK, passed away peacefully on November 30th, 2023, at West Park Manor in Winnipeg at the age of 94. Her three children had been with her throughout the day. She was predeceased by her husband Herb, in 2006, her younger sister Laverne Mae in 1955, and brother Allan Murray in 1992. In her immediate family, she is survived by younger brother Dr. Wayne Orland Dunnigan, of Regina, SK., and her three children: daughter Cheryl Ann Lapp (Richard Kalinoski) of Eau Claire Wisconsin, and sons Ron Lapp (Gail), and Richard Lapp of Winnipeg. She is survived by three granddaughters: Barbara Bourasa (Thaddeus), Christine Wach (Steve), and Pamela Buffie (Andrew), and a total of seven great-grandchildren ranging in age from 3- 10 years. On the Dunnigan side of her family, she is also survived by two nieces and three nephews in Saskatchewan.

Alba Dunnigan was born January 8th 1929 at home on the family farm in Alameda, Saskatchewan, to parents Loretta and Wellington (Wally) Dunnigan. She married Herbert Melbourne Lapp, also of Alameda, in 1950. They lived in Weyburn, Saskatchewan for a year where Cheryl was born, before settling in Winnipeg. They had two more children in Winnipeg, Ronald Carter was born in 1955, followed by Richard Murray, in 1956. Although home base was Winnipeg, summers for the children were often spent at the farm in Alameda with their Dunnigan grandparents. However, they had many aunts, uncles and cousins from the Lapp family nearby, as their father was the youngest of 10 surviving children.

Before her marriage, Alba was locally known as “the horsewoman of Alameda.” She had a great love of horses, from the ponies she rode to school to her own beloved but temperamental horse “Toots,” which she owned for 22 years on her parents’ farm. Later, all her children had the opportunity to ride Toots during summers at the farm, though not as happily or safely as their mom. Toots was responsive to Alba’s riding expertise, but others considered the horse highly unpredictable.

As a young mother in Winnipeg, Alba took an avid interest in painting in the early 1950’s. Later, she took painting classes at the Winnipeg Art Gallery from 1984-88, and at the Elaine Korponay Studio in St. James from 1988-95. Over time she became a clever watercolorist. Family recalls her work being exhibited at a summer art show at the Assiniboine Park Pavilion. Framed watercolor paintings are currently being enjoyed by her daughter and other family members in their homes. In the 1950’s when her children were very young, and babysitters were readily available from the “agency,” Alba enjoyed going out for weekly square dancing with her husband.

In 1965, her husband’s work as a Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the U of Manitoba brought the family to Thailand. This was part of a Canadian team establishing the only department of Agricultural Engineering in Thailand, located at Khon Kaen, in the northeast province of the country. Moving there involved transferring their three children out of Wpg schools and into the International School of Bangkok, attended by students from 33 different countries. The next year, with 5 other Canadian families, they home-schooled their children on the rural campus of Khon Kaen University. Here, several Thai university students wanted to practice their English skills with the new families. Alba would invite them (and occasionally some wandering Buddhist monks), into her home.

This introduction to travel and adventure was followed by Herb’s numerous international assignments, most notably to Peru for 3 years, where Alba and the family joined him while he worked for the Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Alba sparkled at all social occasions and was just as comfortable at Embassy parties welcoming visiting Canadian dignitaries in Lima, as she was at U of M Christmas parties, or family birthday celebrations at home. Upon returning to Winnipeg, Alba and her husband became active in the Latin American Society, the Re-Fit Center, and social events with the families in Winnipeg’s branch of the Kidney Club of Manitoba. Alba was also a participating member of the U of Manitoba Faculty Women’s Association.

As a gracious hostess, Alba frequently welcomed family friends for Sunday dinners, often including her daughter’s friends from the student nurses’ residence. Later in her life, Alba was a caregiver for her own widowed mother, Loretta Dunnigan, bringing her from her house in Alameda to live with her at home in Winnipeg for 4 years, until her death in 1988.

When her son Richard was writing Local Heroes, a book about hockey (1993), his parents travelled with him across Canada to collect qualitative data by interviewing parents of outstanding young hockey players from prairie farms and small towns. Several of these players made it to the National Hockey League.

Alba was proud of the fact that she shared Evis Presley’s Birthday of January 8th, as she was a longtime fan. On her 80th Birthday celebration, her family presented her with a destination trip that centered on a tour of Graceland. For her 90th Birthday, family and friends gathered at her favorite restaurant in Winnipeg for a celebration (pictured).

Until the last five months of her life, Alba was able to live at home with her son Richard and her beloved cat Chili, with the help of home care services. Family would also like to thank Nurse Leslin, Physical Therapist Lorisa, and the caring staff at West Park Manor who also facilitated pet visits.

Cremation has already taken place. As per Alba’s wishes, there was no funeral service. However, family and friends will be gathering in the Spring of 2024, to celebrate and honour Alba’s life.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 06, 2024, Jan 06, 2024