Emmie Poertner

Emmie (née Jenkins) Poertner, was born at home on September 24, 1924 in a tiny two-bedroom house in the city of York, more commonly known as Toronto. She was the youngest of five children born to Harry and Sarah Jenkins. Her older siblings, in order from oldest to youngest, were: Bill (the joker and her Mom's favorite), Marg, Miriam (who was named Minnie but refused to answer unless called Miriam), and David. All four predeceased her, living to a ripe old age. They were a hardy stock.

After graduating from high school, where she learned typing, she entered the workforce during times when further education for women was generally frowned upon. It was a time of gas rationing and other wartime difficulties, however, Emmie carried on as usual, biking to her job at an insurance brokerage, skillfully transcribing notes using shorthand before typing them.

An avid reader, Emmie read everything she could get her hands on, from her favorite writer, Charles Dickens to the newspaper, which she read from cover to cover, including her beloved comics, that sometimes ended up on her fridge. A passionate nature lover, Emmie found joy in birding and identifying plants. Highlights of her birding excursions were the trips she made with Bruce and Susan Nicoll to Point Pelee, Newfoundland and Quebec.

Emmie was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1958 at Yankee Stadium. She loved her vast spiritual family and made a point of getting to know them. In her younger years, she would hop on her bicycle, ride around the neighborhood and drop in to visit her friends. In recent years, she used the phone to keep to in touch.

She made many close friends over the years: Marcia Steep, Angela Thomas, Marian Castle, Bruce and Susan Nicoll, Glory Oton, Irma Fabrizio and the list goes on.

Emmie will be missed by her children: Phyllis and her husband David and their children Carla, Jennifer, Justin, Bonnie, and April; Eunice Barnes and her four children Laura, Heather, Eric, and Paul; and Robert Poertner and his wife Debbie and their three daughters Erika, Lara, and Makayla. Additionally, she had 11 great-grandchildren, all boys except one, Marley, Bonnie's little girl.

Emmie will be remembered for her feisty yet endearing character. Most importantly, Emmie maintained her strong faith and firm belief in the resurrection hope when Jehovah "makes all things new." That hope kept her positive until December 18, 2023, when she died peacefully at home with her children by her side.

A Memorial service is to be held Sunday December 31 at 5 pm at 25 Queens Plate Drive Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 7C8


Dixon Congregation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Emmie Poertner Time: Sun Dec 31, 2023 04:30 PM Eastern Time
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