FRANK FREDERICK HIRST

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FRANK FREDERICK HIRST May 19, 1922 - March 23, 2006 Frank Frederick Hirst, son of Walter and Halldora Hirst (nee Goodman) was born in Lundar, MB, May 19, 1922. He grew up on a 10 acre farm in Oakpoint, MB, approximately a quarter mile from the shore of Lake Manitoba. Frank was the third youngest of two brothers and five sisters, Gordon, Maggie, Francis, Evelyn, Jim, Shirley and Kay. Frank joined the Canadian Army on February 25, 1944 as a training instructor at the Fort Garry Barracks. When he was discharged June 6, 1946, he had been promoted to Sergeant. Frank married his first wife Marianne Renaud in 1948 and together had five children, Joanne, Sharon. Frank Jr., Lucille and Cheryl. Frank first arrived in Hay River in 1957 to work for Menzies Fisheries and moved the family up permanently in 1963. He built his house on 85 Woodland Drive in 1967. He was a commercial fisherman on Great Slave Lake through to 1978 when he took a position with the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre training inmates to fish and trap. Frank met his second wife Olive in 1984. He retired from SMCC in 1987 then spent four additional years working as the grounds keeper at the Hay River Golf Course. Frank loved to have a good time and share a laugh. He enjoyed dancing, gardening, golfing, working with his tractor, gathering wood and especially a game of crib. He called Hay River his home and often spoke fondly of his time spent fishing on Great Slave Lake. He was very much a people person and took great pride in his flowers and garden. He loved it when people stopped to smell the flowers and chat, and especially enjoyed seeing children admire the garden ornaments in his front yard. Children often left his yard with a treat; be it a cookie, garden goody, handful of sweet peas or even a hug. Frank always put family first; he was a loving and proud husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, a cherished brother and uncle; a devoted friend. He will be dearly missed and forever loved. Frank is survived by his loving wife Olive; sisters, Evelyn and Shirley; brother Jim (Grace); children, Joanne (Earl), Sharon (Larry), Frank Jr. (Debbie), Lucille (Denis), Cheryl (Rod); stepchildren, Linda (Pedro), Don (Danelle), Jerry (Vyrle), Allan, Leslie (Daryl); grandchildren, John (Jody), Reg (Brenda), Debbie (Philip), Darren (Lailia), Sharmayne (Mark), Frank Jr. No. 3 (Caryn), Heather, Dena (Dallas), Renee (Travis), Jodi (Travis), Denis Jr., Marissa, Jeri, Amy, Devon, Jared, Jeff, Justin, Jessica, Ashton, Allysia, Albert, Lizzie, Aaron; great-grandchildren, James, Bailey, Brynn, Keagan, Ryan, Skylar, Zackary, Madeline. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: H. H. Williams Memorial Hospital - Palliative Care Unit, No. 3 Gaetz Drive, Hay River, NT X0E 0R8.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 13, 2006