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GLORIA ALYCE VAN CAMP (DELL)
Born: May 06, 1938
Date of Passing: Dec 06, 2025
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
GLORIA ALYCE VAN CAMP (DELL)
It is with profound sadness that her family announce the passing of our wife, Mom, sister, Aunt and Grandma. As was her nature she faced her final illness with courage, grace and concern for others.
Gloria is survived by her husband Keven, son Armando Castillo, daughter Laura Wells (John), granddaughter Chloe (Jody), daughter Irene Eisenhauer (Larry), grandsons Ryan Gunn (Brianna), great-grandsons Harrison and Canyon and grandson Tyler Gunn, daughter Lonnie Siemons and sister Marcie Hansen.
She leaves her niece Gina Reali Genshlea (Joseph), her nephews Dino Reali (Mary) and Mikel Reali and their families. Three generations of the Van Camp family grieve the loss of their sister and auntie and celebrate all she brought to the fabric of their lives. Deb Elizabeth, Ryan Cadotte (Janine), the Wipf family, her Burr cousins and a host of friends, especially Ellie Gordon and Mickey Levine mourn her loss.
She was predeceased by her parents Alice (Burr) and Will Dell (del Aiutanta), brother Bill, her in-laws Marjorie and Bob Van Camp, her nephew Tony Reali and her brother-in-law Ted Hansen.
Gloria was born in Sacramento, CA and raised on a small farm and in the city attending local schools. Her childhood was highlighted by camping trips to Lake Tahoe and Bodega Bay. In 1955 she married Ft. Lt. Walt Schmuck, USAF and moved with him to his base in Loan, France. After his tragic death in a training crash Gloria returned to the US in December 1956. She moved to Ventura, CA to attend college, met and married John Siemons in 1958. Their daughter Laura was born in San Francisco in 1959 and Lonnie in Goleta in 1962. Her home on York Place became “kid central” and is fondly remembered. In 1969 Gloria married Rafael Castillo and adopted his children Armando and Irene. This family took many camping trips, but the highlight was, in 1973/4, taking a year long journey around North America, in part to find a new beginning. While in Santa Barbara Gloria taught first grade and supervised student teachers while earning a master’s degree. She also published her book “Left Handed Teaching...Lessons in Affective Education”. She was a founding member of Confluent Education movement and led workshops in the US, Canada and Japan.
In 1975 she immigrated to Canada with Laura and Lonnie, settling in Calgary. While there she wrote curricula for the University of Calgary, taught at Lethbridge University and worked part time in Manitoba. She and Keven had met in 1973 and after what they deemed sufficient practice purchased a home and Gloria and Lonnie moved to Winnipeg in 1977. Gloria’s first job was with Children’s Home and Winnipeg S.D. integrating adolescent boys with severe emotional and behavioral issues into a regular school setting. In 1979 she was hired by the Department of Education to establish support services for children with autism entering the school system. She travelled across Manitoba assisting families and schools. Gloria was recognized across Canada for her work speaking at several national conferences. She retired in 1993. In 1983 she and Keven purchased their small farm at St. Francois Xavier and were married there on July 2. The farm years were wonderful, they were able to indulge in their love of gardening, enjoying nature, the peace of the countryside and hosting family and friends.
In 2021, after 38 wonderful years they transitioned to their cabin at Steep Rock and finally in 2023 to their apartment at The Link in Winnipeg. While working they travelled two or three times a year to the US to visit her children and family. In their retirement years Gloria and Keven travelled more extensively. In several truck campers they covered Canada and the USA. They visited some forty countries on six continents. Gloria refused to go to Antarctica. Gloria and Lonnie made a most memorable trip to Italy and for Gloria’s eightieth birthday she and Keven completed the Camino in Portugal and Spain.
Their cabin at Steep Rock (2010) was a wonderful addition to their lives bringing new friends, adventures and the beauty of Lake Manitoba.
Gloria and Keven fell in love at first sight, that love grew and endured for over fifty years and for that they felt truly blessed.
Gloria was a student, teacher, mentor, card and letter writer, author, artist, trip planner, seamstress, stitcher, chef, puzzler, reader, counsellor, incredible gardener and seeker. But her roles as Mom, wife, Grandma, sister, aunt and friend were the most important to her. She was a force.
A celebration of Gloria’s life will be held at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, 433 Main St. Stonewall, MB at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. A reception will follow at the adjacent Legion Hall. She will be interred at St. George’s Cemetery at Woodlands, MB.
Keven and her family extend their sincere thanks for the support they have received. They greatly appreciate the personal and professional guidance of John and Karen Gray of Arnason’s.
Should anyone be inclined, donations to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Inc., 675 McDermot Ave., Room ON1160, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9 would be very much appreciated.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 18, 2026