July 1, 1957 - February 8, 2017
It is with great sadness that we convey the passing of our beloved Kasey Mom. She left us with God's grace in our home on the evening of February 8, after a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived and loved by her husband Stephen and eight children (Winston, Chelsea, Brandon, Rosie, Robert, Flynn, John and Michael) and their partners, five grandchildren (Faye, Haiyle, Isaac, Greta and Samuel), her mother and father, Robert and Sue Winje, four siblings and their spouses (Kim and Steve, Andrew and Karina, Amy and Tom and Jody and Jamie) and a very large extended family. Kasey was born a fifth generation California, raised in Southern California, swam on the high school swim team and sang in the Madrigal choir. She learned to play guitar and loved to sing, which she did for the rest of her life, later inspiring her children in her love of music. After graduating in 1975, her adventurous spirit, and love for the outdoors and water inspired her to move north to Arcata, to attend Humboldt State University. She was a member of the HSU synchronized and competitive swim teams. Kasey also attended Sweden's Uppsala University for a year as an exchange student. Kasey studied biology and botany and later midwifery. In the fall of 1978, she married Steve in a small outdoor wedding under the redwoods in Arcata. She worked as a peer counselor and taught swim lessons, and in 1992 served two months as a midwife in the Philippines at a shelter for impoverished woman and families.
Kasey birthed seven children in six pregnancies (five home births) and adopted one, while living in California, Oklahoma, Alaska, Washington, Nevada and British Columbia, moving to Tsawwassen in August 1997. She and her family moved to the Sunshine Coast in early 2003, finally settling in Halfmoon Bay in 2006. Kasey was inspired to see her children successful and respectful, while guiding their spiritual health. She was active with her church, teaching and playing music, schooling the young children, and serving as an elder. She loved playing games with family and friends, as it fostered an infectious and loving comradery. Kasey was dedicated to homeschooling her children. A true homemaker, she loved music, cooking, gardening, biking, hiking and making things for others. Her real joy was being in the water or hiking with friends and family along the shore, searching the sand for little treasures or scouring the tidewaters for life.
Forever My Love
Where you go I cannot follow
Today, we must be patient
For there are things I
Must do for you, as I still breathe
Do not fret, I have you
In my arms as I embrace you
With my tears, we shed together
You are so young
I can see you younger still
As we enjoin amidst
All our wondrous years together
I am not ready to let you
Go, I hold you so
Close I am to you
Please stay, I can
Feel your warm breath in my ear
Your lips caressing mine
So many times we love
...and loved
This separation was not
Meant to be
We of forever young
Were made more splendidly
The River has frozen, and you're skating away
And I'm losing the best I ever had.
My senses will be unfilled
The Forest is burning
And the sunshine is setting.
This hurts, yet my love
For you still grow
With every beat
My heart reaches out and encircles you.
This is hard, and I see you there
Lying amongst the shadows,
Searching the window panes for light
Despairing, hoping - yet knowing
You are so courageous to face this
Enigmatic yet wonderful story until the end.
Grace is upon you, for you
So cherished by so many
All you have reached and touched and given
So openly to the strong and meek
For you are being lifted
In love and spirit.
Surrounded are you, the love,
Your family, the friends
That you have nourished and fed
And they will hold you close
As with Him within Forever.