MELVIN RICHARD (MEL) LEASK

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MELVIN RICHARD (MEL) LEASK September 3, 1917 - March 7, 2008 It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of our dear husband, father and grandfather at the age of 90 after a full and memorable life. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean; sons Richard (Donna) and Robert; daughter Jane (Gary) Chomyn; beloved grandchildren James and Sarah Leask, and Allene and Andrew Chomyn; and niece Elspeth Burns-Johnson, who was like a daughter to him. He was predeceased by his parents and sister Ruth. Mel was born and raised in Clandeboye, Manitoba, where he developed a great love of horses, dogs and the outdoors. In 1939 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he became a pilot and a flight instructor and flew many missions with No. 100 Special Duty Group. On one such mission, his airplane took heavy fire and lost engine power over the ocean. He was able to safely bring his aircraft and crew home. For this act of heroism, Mel was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he settled in Winnipeg, went to business school and married Jean Smith in 1947. His work kept them on the move through much of his career. They eventually retired to Victoria, BC, but were drawn back to Edmonton to be closer to family, especially his beloved grandchildren. He made friends everywhere he went and was able to stay in touch with many of them, having embraced email and the Internet from its early days. Mel was an active man, personally and in the community, and was always interested in trying new things. He curled, kept bees as a hobby, volunteered for the Cross Cancer Clinic, downhill-skied until the age of 80, and was a devoted lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge. In his later years he also became a Shriner. He loved to watch baseball and Formula One, and held season tickets to the Edmonton Trappers for many years. He often remarked that, in another life, he might have been a major-league pitcher or a race car driver. We all remember all the good fun and hard work of the days at the family cottage at Island Lake. His grandchildren, in particular, enjoyed their time at the lake with grandpa and grandma. He was fond of saying that family was everything to him, and he lived those words every day. Lucky us. He will be missed, always. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the charity of one's choice in his name. At his request, a private family memorial will be held at a later date.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 15, 2008