ARTHUR KELLY ERSKINE 1927-

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ARTHUR KELLY ERSKINE 1927- 2006 Father, grandfather, great-grandad, brother and friend, Arthur passed away January 16 following a lengthy stay in hospital. He was 78. Predeceased by his parents, Gerald and Anne, and by his stillborn twin, Arthur is survived by his children, Patrick (Winnipeg) and Leslie (Orangeville, ON); grandchildren, Angela (Kenny) Podniewicz and Kelley Davidson in Ontario plus James (Bria) Garrett and Courtney Erskine of Winnipeg; by great-grandsons, Bailey, Jakob and Max Podniewicz and Rhys Erskine; by sisters, Mary Lou Vail and Dorothy (Dave) Jowett and by numerous other kinfolk and friends. Arthur relished the camaraderie of the militia. He invested much time and talent in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, retiring a Captain. He served on the Officers' Association executive for years. He enjoyed regular fellowship at St. James Legion and was a life member of the Army Navy Air Force Veterans in Canada (Rockwood Unit 303), where he served on the executive and was past president. There, for over 40 years, he fostered a relationship with school patrols at Rockwood and Harrow Schools, treating them to a riverboat cruise and barbecue each spring. For this Police Chief Ewatski awarded him a citation. Another project: musical evenings for residents of Deer Lodge Centre. Art was an avid curler in his day, skipping foursomes at Rossmere, Westwin and other local rinks and making annual pilgrimage to the Kenora Military Bonspiel. As a member of the Shriners and the Khartoum Temple Oriental Band, he spent many summer Saturdays parading through small towns around the province. He was a member of Meridian Masonic Lodge #140. Art was in showbiz. He worked at CBWT master control for over two decades, retiring to do essentially the same thing: route information and entertainment to a worldwide list of internet contacts. He wanted his body to benefit students in the University of Manitoba medical school, so his remains will be laid to rest in a family ceremony later, but those who wish to reminisce and celebrate his life should do so this Friday, January 20, 11:00 a.m. at the Rockwood ANAF Hall, 341 Wilton Street, north of Grant. As he would say, Cheers!

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 18, 2006