Patricia Marie “Pat” Walker (née Baumgardner)

Patricia Marie “Pat” Walker was an archaeologist, musician, mentor, traveller, devoted mother and grandmother, and a woman of extraordinary curiosity, determination, and compassion.

Raised in Springfield, Illinois, Pat developed a lifelong hunger for knowledge. Books were among her greatest treasures, and over the years she assembled an extensive and carefully organized library covering literature, history, mysteries, anthropology, and many other subjects.

Her interests extended well beyond the page. Pat loved baseball from childhood and remained a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. She also followed football, hockey, and curling and readily travelled great distances to cheer for her grandchildren at their games and competitions.

Music was another constant throughout Pat’s life. Her tastes ranged from rock and roll to classical music, and she sang with the Springfield High School a cappella choir. In Winnipeg, she became a member of the Celtic group Slàinte Mhath, performing regularly at Folklorama’s Pavilion of Scotland and sharing her love of music with Pavilion audiences.

Pat attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where she met her first husband, John Badertscher. Their early married life took them to Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Chicago before the family settled permanently in Winnipeg in 1971.

A natural traveller and meticulous planner, Pat organized memorable family road trips across Canada and the United States. Armed with maps and guidebooks, she led adventures from Newfoundland to the Rocky Mountains and Alaska, creating experiences that her family would remember for a lifetime.

As an adult, Pat studied anthropology and archaeology at the University of Manitoba. She later built a career as an archaeologist with the Manitoba government’s Historic Resources Branch, participating in excavations throughout the province and helping preserve and interpret Manitoba’s past.

Pat shared her professional life with her second husband, Peter Walker, and together they enjoyed archaeology, travel, music, and good food. She was also a respected mentor to excavation crews, students, neighbours, friends, and family members, encouraging many people to recognize their abilities and pursue meaningful paths.

Central to Pat’s life was her belief in the equal dignity and worth of every person. This conviction guided her fierce advocacy for her son Chris and informed her deep respect for Indigenous peoples, cultures, and histories. Long before such awareness became widespread, she understood the significance of Treaty One and the responsibility of living within its territory.

Pat was predeceased by Peter and by her son Chris. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter Elisabeth, son Paul, stepchildren Graham, Dane, and Anna, her sister Lynda, eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and the countless people she guided, encouraged, and inspired.