We are heartbroken to announce the peaceful passing of Krista Walters. Krista will be missed
dearly by her husband and partner Carl Klassen and their children Rosalie and Linden. She is
also mourned by her mother Bonnie; sister Kerri and family (Ian Macdonald and their daughter
Frances); her father-in-law Ted Klassen (Helene Dyck); brothers-in-law Jerome (Caroline Nowlan
and their children Eleanor and Juliet) and Ted Jr. (Elham); also her friends, neighbours, and
former colleagues that have offered kindness and support during her difficult two-year struggle
with cancer. She was predeceased by her mother-in-law Violet Klassen in 2007 and her father
Gerry Walters in 2019.
Krista was born in Winnipeg in 1976. As a child growing up in St. Vital she had many interests,
including judo, softball, swimming, piano, choir, and alto saxophone. She also enjoyed art and
created many beautiful sketches, paintings, and drawings, some of which remain on display in
her childhood family home. Most of all, though, Krista was passionate about music. She would
purchase a record or cassette, and before dropping the needle or pressing play she would have
already immersed herself in the liner notes. She knew all the deep cuts of her favourite artists
(most notably, R.E.M.) and supported the local music scene, proudly sharing her love of music
with those around her. On many family road trips across North America, it was Krista’s choices
of music that served as the soundtrack for her and her sister Kerri in the backseat. Many of
those songs remain on our playlists, accompanied by fond memories of Krista’s voice quietly
but happily singing the harmonies.
From an early age she lived her life with strong, principled convictions, taking the time to
consider her own impact on the world and others. She was passionate about doing her part to
make the world a kinder, more just and equitable place for all. As a teenager and young adult
she organized and attended animal rights demonstrations, participated in anti-war marches and
protests, started up her own vegan catering business, and spent several years co-managing
Mondragón Bookstore & Coffeehouse (a hub for Winnipeg’s vegan and activist community
during the late 1990s and 2000s), where she would become best of friends with Carl before
they began dating in 2002. (While listening to Bruce Springsteen records at his apartment, he
told her that he had a “super huge crush on her” and the rest is history.)
Krista began attending the University of Manitoba part-time in her 20s. She exceled in her
academic studies, receiving multiple awards and national scholarships for her work and
choosing to pursue graduate studies in History. One of her proudest moments was receiving
competing phone calls from both the University of Toronto and York University accepting her
into their Doctoral Programs in History.
Outside of her academic life, she enjoyed spending time with Carl: running errands together,
eating at their favourite restaurants, hosting friends for weekend brunches, caring for their
adopted cats and dogs, enjoying occasional movie marathons of The Lord of the Rings, playing
backgammon in bed with coffee, or even driving to Whiteshell Provincial Park on a whim just to
experience its beauty (and to, maybe, get french fries). In 2010, she asked Carl to marry her (he
said yes), and the two decided to get married in a cabin at Falcon Lake, the place Krista
described as her favourite place in the world.
Krista received her Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba in 2021 after also studying at the
University of Toronto. Upon completion of her degree, she worked as an Instructor in the
Department of History and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at the U of M,
mostly teaching courses virtually from her home in Morden where she and Carl moved to in
2014.
The creative talent Krista showed as a child continued into adulthood. She was a talented fibre
artist who knit intricate and beautiful sweaters, hats, and mittens for those lucky enough to be
closest to her. In recent years she found much joy in designing and stitching her own quilts.
These cherished items are enduring symbols of her love for her family that continue to keep
both our bodies and hearts warm during these difficult days.
More than anything else, Krista loved being a mother to her children. She had a seemingly
endless supply of hugs for Rosalie and Linden and was quick to encourage them when she
noticed any new interest emerging. When a young Rosalie was curious about dinosaurs, she
located all the available books in libraries and bookstores and planned a trip to Drumheller, AB
to see fossils. When Linden showed a fascination for air conditioners, she found informational
videos for him to watch and took him to look at different AC units in public spaces around the
city, helping take pictures and videos when requested. Whatever her children were interested
in doing or learning about, she would embrace it as her own passion alongside them, including
picking up the guitar as a beginner or sitting down at the piano to re-learn the basics because
Rosalie and Linden (and Carl) enjoy making music in the house.
Thank you, Krista, for everything you added to our lives. We love you and will carry you in our
hearts, always. xoxo
We would like to sincerely thank the wonderful staff of Boundary Trails Health Centre,
particularly those in the Community Cancer Care Program and the Medical and Surgical Units,
for their compassionate support and care during Krista’s many visits.
To honour Krista’s memory, we invite donations to either Furever Friends Cat Rescue in Altona
or the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation to support work in palliative/cancer care.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
dearly by her husband and partner Carl Klassen and their children Rosalie and Linden. She is
also mourned by her mother Bonnie; sister Kerri and family (Ian Macdonald and their daughter
Frances); her father-in-law Ted Klassen (Helene Dyck); brothers-in-law Jerome (Caroline Nowlan
and their children Eleanor and Juliet) and Ted Jr. (Elham); also her friends, neighbours, and
former colleagues that have offered kindness and support during her difficult two-year struggle
with cancer. She was predeceased by her mother-in-law Violet Klassen in 2007 and her father
Gerry Walters in 2019.
Krista was born in Winnipeg in 1976. As a child growing up in St. Vital she had many interests,
including judo, softball, swimming, piano, choir, and alto saxophone. She also enjoyed art and
created many beautiful sketches, paintings, and drawings, some of which remain on display in
her childhood family home. Most of all, though, Krista was passionate about music. She would
purchase a record or cassette, and before dropping the needle or pressing play she would have
already immersed herself in the liner notes. She knew all the deep cuts of her favourite artists
(most notably, R.E.M.) and supported the local music scene, proudly sharing her love of music
with those around her. On many family road trips across North America, it was Krista’s choices
of music that served as the soundtrack for her and her sister Kerri in the backseat. Many of
those songs remain on our playlists, accompanied by fond memories of Krista’s voice quietly
but happily singing the harmonies.
From an early age she lived her life with strong, principled convictions, taking the time to
consider her own impact on the world and others. She was passionate about doing her part to
make the world a kinder, more just and equitable place for all. As a teenager and young adult
she organized and attended animal rights demonstrations, participated in anti-war marches and
protests, started up her own vegan catering business, and spent several years co-managing
Mondragón Bookstore & Coffeehouse (a hub for Winnipeg’s vegan and activist community
during the late 1990s and 2000s), where she would become best of friends with Carl before
they began dating in 2002. (While listening to Bruce Springsteen records at his apartment, he
told her that he had a “super huge crush on her” and the rest is history.)
Krista began attending the University of Manitoba part-time in her 20s. She exceled in her
academic studies, receiving multiple awards and national scholarships for her work and
choosing to pursue graduate studies in History. One of her proudest moments was receiving
competing phone calls from both the University of Toronto and York University accepting her
into their Doctoral Programs in History.
Outside of her academic life, she enjoyed spending time with Carl: running errands together,
eating at their favourite restaurants, hosting friends for weekend brunches, caring for their
adopted cats and dogs, enjoying occasional movie marathons of The Lord of the Rings, playing
backgammon in bed with coffee, or even driving to Whiteshell Provincial Park on a whim just to
experience its beauty (and to, maybe, get french fries). In 2010, she asked Carl to marry her (he
said yes), and the two decided to get married in a cabin at Falcon Lake, the place Krista
described as her favourite place in the world.
Krista received her Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba in 2021 after also studying at the
University of Toronto. Upon completion of her degree, she worked as an Instructor in the
Department of History and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at the U of M,
mostly teaching courses virtually from her home in Morden where she and Carl moved to in
2014.
The creative talent Krista showed as a child continued into adulthood. She was a talented fibre
artist who knit intricate and beautiful sweaters, hats, and mittens for those lucky enough to be
closest to her. In recent years she found much joy in designing and stitching her own quilts.
These cherished items are enduring symbols of her love for her family that continue to keep
both our bodies and hearts warm during these difficult days.
More than anything else, Krista loved being a mother to her children. She had a seemingly
endless supply of hugs for Rosalie and Linden and was quick to encourage them when she
noticed any new interest emerging. When a young Rosalie was curious about dinosaurs, she
located all the available books in libraries and bookstores and planned a trip to Drumheller, AB
to see fossils. When Linden showed a fascination for air conditioners, she found informational
videos for him to watch and took him to look at different AC units in public spaces around the
city, helping take pictures and videos when requested. Whatever her children were interested
in doing or learning about, she would embrace it as her own passion alongside them, including
picking up the guitar as a beginner or sitting down at the piano to re-learn the basics because
Rosalie and Linden (and Carl) enjoy making music in the house.
Thank you, Krista, for everything you added to our lives. We love you and will carry you in our
hearts, always. xoxo
We would like to sincerely thank the wonderful staff of Boundary Trails Health Centre,
particularly those in the Community Cancer Care Program and the Medical and Surgical Units,
for their compassionate support and care during Krista’s many visits.
To honour Krista’s memory, we invite donations to either Furever Friends Cat Rescue in Altona
or the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation to support work in palliative/cancer care.
Private family services will be held at a later date.