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Nellie McLeod - October 26, 2011 / Kenneth A. McLeod - June 12, 2012

Nellie McLeod.jpg John Madden - October 14, 2011ThumbnailsRobert Fraser - March 9, 2012

NELLIE VERNA MCLEOD (nee KOLESAR) Peacefully after a brief illness, on October 26, 2011, Nellie passed away at the age of 90 years. Mom was predeceased by her parents Michael Joseph and Anne (Bajus) Kolesar, her sister Rose, brother Fred, and daughter Patricia Dawson. She is survived by her husband Ken, daughter Barbara (Aurele) Caumartin, son David (Suzanne) and son-in-law Robert Dawson. She also leaves sisters Alice (Bill) Moger and Velma (Pavlin). Mom will also be sadly missed by grandchildren Michael (Charlene) Walker, Reanne Dawson, Ian (Andrea) McLeod, and Heather (Byron) Dawson. Mom was born in her grandparents' home on February 21, 1921 in the Springhill, MB district. Shortly thereafter she and her parents moved to their own farm a short distance from the original Kolesar homestead. She attended Clarkesville School and had hoped to continue her education to become a teacher but the hardships of the depression made any additional schooling impossible. Eventually Mom took a business course and moved to Winnipeg to work at Snap-On tools. It was during a bus trip from Neepawa to Winnipeg in 1943 that she met a young soldier, her future husband, Ken, who offered his bus seat so she wouldn't have to stand. This was the beginning of a partnership that lasted over 65 years. Mom and Dad were married at St. Elizabeth's Church in Polonia in 1946 and immediately moved to the little house they had purchased on Pembina Highway, Winnipeg. Mom continued to work until the birth of their first daughter, Barbara. The McLeod family moved to Rivers, MB in the spring of 1950 where Dad was Assistant Manager with North American Lumber. The family moved in 1952 to McCreary, MB, where Dad became manager of the lumber yard. Daughter Patti was born in Neepawa during the course of this move. The family was completed in 1956 when son David was born. Mom worked part time with the Turtle River School Division and then for the Village of McCreary and the Rural Municipality of McCreary. Mom became secretary-treasurer for the R.M. of McCreary, a post she held until retiring in 1985. Mom and Dad travelled extensively before and during retirement, visiting such places as Hawaii, Australia, Japan, France, continental Europe and Great Britain. In 1999, they moved back to Winnipeg to be closer to family. Mom was an avid gardener, her roses were always in full bloom, and she also specialized in growing orchids for which she won several awards through the Manitoba Orchid Society. While in McCreary, Mom was an active member of the Catholic Women's League, the Burrows Trail Arts Group, the McCreary Curling Club, and the 4-H movement. Nellie suffered from a debilitating form of arthritis that eventually made her wheelchair bound. Mom suffered a stroke in the fall of 2009 and spent her last few years at Oakview Place on Ness Avenue. The family would like to thank the staff at Oakview Place for all their help and assistance during Mom's term of residence. Funeral service is to be at St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church in Neepawa, MB, on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba or the Manitoba Alzheimer Society.

Kenneth A. McLeod, was born in June 1921 & passed away June 12 2012

As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on November 01, 2011

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