- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
DAVID NEELANDS On Friday, November 8, 2002, David Neelands passed away peacefully at the age of 60, with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife, Gillian; daughters, Rebecca (Richard) Fortier, Christine (A.J.) Rankel and Laura (Rob) Slywka; and his grandson, Dominic Rankel. He also leaves behind his sisters, Rae (Les) Armstrong and Susan (Jon) Gill; and numerous nieces and nephews. In 1965, Dave started his teaching career at St. Johns Cathedral Boys School, Selkirk, MB. It was there that he met Gillian. He was a leader and role model to his students and colleagues. He went on to become headmaster of St. Johns School of Alberta from 1975 to 1982. Subsequently he was a loyal and well-respected employee with Dairyland Foods as well as successfully running a business jointly with Gillian. His friends and family will always remember him for his exuberance in absolutely everything he ever did; he never did anything in half measures. His passion for music enriched his life and the lives of many others. A funeral liturgy will be held on Wednesday, November 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 11111 - 57 Ave., Edmonton, AB. In lieu of flowers, if so desired, donations may be made to "Families for Children" (a home for abandoned baby girls in Bangladesh), in care of Tom Gougeon, 1308 Patterson View S.W., Calgary, AB, T3H 3J9. In the words of his grandson, "I will always remember that curious and wonderful man." Serenity Funeral Service 5311 - 91 St. Edmonton, AB 780-450-0101 Phil Plummer, Funeral Director Messages of comfort and condolence may be e-mailed to sercarel@telusplanet.net
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 12, 2002
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
-
13 years have passed, and it's now December 2025. I now learn that an old friend, David, passed away far to young. Rae and David lived across from me on Wolseley Ave where I lived from three to five. We moved to the first house on Arlington Street when I was 12. Dave's family moved to the corner house on Palmerston at Evanson Street We both backed onto backlanes, and were only three houses apart. Sister Susie joined his family after that. Mrs. Neelands, with her English "mary-jane style" shoes once scolded me for having scared young Susie about the "boogey man". I still have photos of our earliest days playing together. Our paths rarely crossed, but I knew Dave was into something at university involving agriculture, and that he later worked with St. John's, and had later moved to Edmonton to run the school there. I had wed early at 18, had a family, moved to Vancouver, divorced at 32, moved to Saskatoon in 1988, and Calgary in 1990. When visiting friends in Edmonton in 1991, I called David, hoping to reconnect. He was not at home, but I had a lovely, cheerful chat with his daughter. THAT, was the last I'd hear of Dave, until tonight, December 2025, when I started scrolling for obituaries of those I used to know in Winnipeg. David's was the only name I "hit", unfortunately. I'm now 83. I'm saddened to learn that he died at too young an age. I know he would have treasured and made ever moment count, in the life he lived. Thanks for some early memories. - Posted by: Sandra Robert Gall (childhood friend) on: Dec 20, 2025