ROY R. IMLAH

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ROY R. IMLAH July 13, 1926 - February 6, 2012 Sadly we announce the passing of Roy Raman Imlah. Roy was born and raised in Fisherton, MB. He was the fourth child in a family of ten - five boys and five girls. He was predeceased by grandson Darcy Davidow, great-grandson Kian Armstrong, as well as his brothers: Walter, Alonzo, Wallace; sisters: Edna and Gladys; brothers-in-law: Earl Stensland, Tom Beaudin and Ernie Beaudin, and sisters-in-law: Odette Beaudin and Venice Beaudin. Roy was only 15 when he joined the Winnipeg Rifles, but was honourably discharged when his age was discovered. He then started working for farmers. Roy loved clearing land. The Imlah brothers worked together from the mines at Red Lake, ON to cutting and hauling cordwood in Manitoba during the winter. They always returned in spring to farm. They hunted together, played crib together, played pool together, and even argued together. On February 14, 1953, Roy married Simone Beaudin of St. Eustache, MB. At that point the work really started in earnest. From 1953 to 1960 (the wet years) no crops were harvested. Roy's brother, Wallace, started an eavestrough company in Winnipeg. Roy went to join him. On weekends, Roy rushed back to Fisherton to build their first house with the help of his brothers-in-law and father-in-law. In 1956 Roy worked at building dikes along the Assiniboine River. In 1957 Roy went to Baffin Island dynamiting roadways and painting inside huts. While up there, as a side job, Roy became a barber. The pay was in cigarettes which kept him well supplied. That winter, he returned home to live in his new house. Needing to work, he started trapping. Beaver, muskrat, mink, weasel and more, his furs were always top grade. In 1958, the house was traded for a quarter of land. On this land an old garage was fixed up to be liveable. In the spring of 1960, Roy started working for Bill Triska constructing roads. He was on the night shift so he would catch a couple hours of sleep then farm during the day. This went on for an entire season - from spring planting to harvesting in the fall. It took eight years before the money was raised for their next and final house which was built in 1967. Roy held numerous jobs like this throughout his life to make an extra buck to advance his farms. During the 1970s, he held the position of foreman on the FRED program building barns and hay sheds in the Interlake. He also believed in giving back to his community. From 1974 to 1986, Roy was councilor for the R.M. of Fisher. He dedicated many hours to planning, building roads and drains and their maintenance. He always tried to accommodate his fellow citizens. From 1986 to 1989, Roy was a fire prevention officer for the Department of Natural Resources. At the age of 78, he and friend Bud Wright (being older yet) tied ropes to their shoulders and re-roofed Bud's house which had quite a height and pitch to the roof. During that time, he also built a saw mill to help his son Raymond cut lumber to build his home. They worked side-by-side on this and completed it in 1993. Roy helped Raymond with his farm from 1983 until 2003. As hard as Roy worked, he danced many a night away. He played guitar and the mouth organ. He often sang those old country tunes like How far is Heaven at family gatherings. Many Sunday afternoons were set aside to teach the kids how to dance to those old time melodies. Winter was curling. With the Hodgson Legion #158 or weekend bonspieling in Arborg, Ashern, Eriksdale, Fisher Branch, Hodgson, Stony Mountain or Stonewall. Many times he brought home trophies along with great (strategic) stories. Summers were for golfing whenever he got the chance, and later fishing -from the Mantago to Grand Rapids his gear was usually in the vehicle. Cribbage was a constant at our house and all the kids and grandchildren learned to play at an early age. Learning to count included - 15 for two and a pair is four. Roy leaves to mourn his wife Simone, of 58 years; his children: Christine (Jack Kowalchuk), Raymond (Cathy O'Neill), Phillip (Darlene Galipeault), Grace (Jos Eeken), and Rozanne (Tom Nevakshonoff); grandchildren: Melody (Darryl Helgason), Teresa (Kerr Dingley), Zachary Kowalchuk, Tiffany (Andrew Recksiedler), Lindsay and Michael Imlah, Jade Armstrong and Caitlin Davis; great-grandchildren Jaimie Helgason, Ashley Foster, Rylie and Chelsea Davidow, Savannah Kohnke, Dylan Dingley, Emma Armstrong and Claire Thompson; his siblings: Dan (Dot), Julia Stensland, Maybelle (Keith Playter), and Mary Ricard; sisters-in-law: Anna Imlah, Sally Imlah, Josie Imlah, Irene Beaudin, Claudette (Herb Boyer), Edna Beaudin; brothers-in-law: Gus (Pauline) Beaudin, Philip Beaudin, Ken (Debbie) Beaudin, and numerous nieces and nephews. Respecting Roy's wishes, there will be no formal ceremony. Cremation has taken place. A family gathering to honour Roy's life will take place this summer. We sincerely thank the Home Care Workers who attended him when he was home as well as in the Portage la Prairie and Fisher Branch Personal Care Homes. Flowers are respectfully declined. If you wish, you may make a donation to the Fisher Personal Care Home, the Fisher HandiVan or the Fisherton Cemetery. FISHER FUNERAL HOME In care of arrangements. Fisher Branch, MB (204) 372-6271 or 372-6803

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 11, 2012