May 11, 1931 – April 13, 2018
It is with great sadness our family announces the passing of Leslie Yvonne Kasmar (Logan) of Saskatoon, SK, on April 13, 2018, at the age of 86.
Leslie was born to Fraser and Alice Logan in Saskatoon along with her siblings Corinne, Blake, and Fraser (Berd). She attended Wilson, Caswell, and Bedford Road schools in Saskatoon, SK. In high school, she received awards for high academics and athletics, especially in basketball. She graduated from the Saskatoon City Hospital Nursing School with the highest grades in the 1952B class.
In 1952, Leslie and Dr. Jim Kasmar eloped and moved to Davidson where their medical practice was established and quickly became an integral part of the community for the next 12 years. They moved to Saskatoon in 1964 with their four daughters, Janet, Sydney, Susan, and Marian. Lynda, the youngest daughter was born shortly after settling into city life.
Leslie enjoyed her life as a nurse, homemaker, wife, Mom and Nana. She was an enthusiastic volunteer with many associations. She spent many hours volunteering for the Saskatoon City Hospital Nurses Alumni Executive and bookkeeping for the medical practice and family. She was an avid sports enthusiast, traveller, pianist, golfer, curler, reader, seamstress, needlepointer, swimmer, family lifeguard and enjoyed doing crosswords and Sudoku puzzles. Her memory was amazing to all! Leslie was educated in healing therapies such as Reiki and reflexology. She was also the “taxi driver” for her daughters while they were involved in dancing and activities, we could not count the driving times back and forth to the dance studio with her five daughters. She was also a very talented seamstress and created many costumes for dance, skating, and baton events.
Leslie and Jim enjoyed their time together with family and friends. They travelled extensively from Hawaii to Mexico, Bermuda, Barbados, US and Europe. There were many family road trips hauling the boat to many lakes (particularly Waskesiu lake) for water skiing and fishing, but the priority was the golf courses that each holiday adventure was based around. Many holidays included a round of golf in the morning, lake in the afternoon and another golf round at supper. We think the boat was really needed to haul the golf clubs! They were also members of the Riverside Country Club and they had many rounds of golf and fun with their friends there. Another sport they both enjoyed and took up was scuba diving, which took them to warm destinations to enjoy the undersea life together. It has been nearly 40 years without one another, and now they will be reunited.
In recent years, while living in special care homes, Leslie continued to show concern and compassion for her fellow residents. She adjusted to her new life style, made friends and as health permitted was involved in resident activities. Leslie struggled with rheumatoid arthritis throughout her life, and many times we called her the “Bionic Women” with all the joint replacements she encountered over the years, but that did not stop her in any way. Through this, she taught her family and friend’s determination, strength, and fortitude. Her grandchildren had a wonderful Nana to learn from and have fun with. One of our favorite childhood memories was playing Owly Owly Owly with her!
Mom and Nana/Granma will be remembered and missed so much by,
JANET Thomson; Jackie (Brodie Uprichard), Beth (André Lalonde), Paul (Cara
Baldwin), SYDNEY Kasmar, SUSAN and David Pezderic; Preston, Mitchell, Raisa Pezderic (Colin McGuirk McNeil), MARIAN and Rob Hoffos; Nicole Smith (Michael), Brooke, Rachel, LYNDA Kasmar; Richard, Ernie, Amanda, along with all her relatives in the Logan, Kasmar and Sim families.
Leslie was predeceased by her husband: Dr. James J. Kasmar (1978), parents: Fraser and Alice Logan, sister: Corinne Hollingshead, brother-in-law: Glen Hollingshead, grandson: Jim Thomson, and son-in-law: Mark Thomson.
On Saturday, April 21, 2018, a burial service took place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon, SK. Following, everyone was welcome to attend a Come and Go “Celebration of Life” for Leslie, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Saskatoon Club.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Arthritis Society.