BERTRAM JOHN (BERT) HAMILTON -

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BERTRAM JOHN (BERT) HAMILTON 1913 - 2007 Peacefully, on Thursday, February 15, 2007 at St. Boniface Hospital, Bert Hamilton passed away at the age of 93 years. Left to mourn are his beloved wife Alice (nee Witzel); daughter Juliette (Archie) and son-in-law John Cooper; stepson Carl (Christine); granddaughters, Pilar Bryson (Greg) and Liz Cooper (Gary Pachal); stepgranddaughters, Suzanna (Dave) and Katie; great-grandchildren, Sian and Cash; sisters-in-law, Natalia and Inez; nieces, Teri Herbert, Joy Dupont, Erin Messer and Lavonne Sewell; nephews, Fred and Dennis Dupont and Donald Moore; cousins, Jean (Ted) Routledge and Donald Hamilton. Bert was predeceased by his wife Julie (nee Desmarais) and his sister May. Bert was born in Toronto to Alexander and Elizabeth Hamilton, recent arrivals from Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in Scarborough, attending Birchcliff Heights Public School and later Scarborough High School. After working briefly for the Canada Life Insurance Company he returned to school to earn a degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Toronto. He began his mining career in Red Lake, ON, married Julie and then moved to God's Lake, MB. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army, joining the Royal Canadian Engineers; he served in France, Belgium and Holland, and built Bailey bridges to cross the Rhine. After discharge, he resumed his mining career at Herb Lake, MB then Starrat Olsen mine near Red Lake, ON. In 1949 Bert left Canada for South America, working at mines in Bolivia, Peru and Chile for over 30 years; he also spent four years developing mining properties in Indonesia. In 1985 Bert retired to Marathon, FL where he and Julie had constructed a home in the Florida Keys and where they spent many happy years. After Julie's stroke Bert moved to Winnipeg to be near family. In 1999 he married Alice and they enjoyed travel to Europe and in Canada, spending winters in the Keys and summers in Winnipeg. The family wishes to thank the physicians and staff at Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Port Charlotte, FL for their care and to Dr. Glen Drobot and the staff of Units A6 and B4 at St. Boniface Hospital for their excellent care and kindness to Bert in his final days. At Bert's request, there will be no formal service, a gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army, 500 - 55 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1L8. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements 233-4949; toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2007