LESLIE HUGHES TOUGH

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LESLIE HUGHES TOUGH March 20, 1932 March 11, 2007 With dignity and surrounded by the love of his beloved family, Leslie Tough passed away March 11, 2007 at St. Boniface Hospital after a long fight and difficult battle with a devastating illness. His courage and patience with this journey has been an inspiration to all who have had the privilege to know him. He is survived by his soul mate and the love of his life Doreen; his loving children, Debbie (Paul), Bob, Ron (Rhonda) and Ken (Jenny) and six grandchildren; Ashley, Matthew, Katie, Riley, Jago and Finn. He is also survived by two brothers; Bill and Don (Marion), sister-in-laws, Naida (Ron), Edith and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Eleanor, brothers, Arthur and Bob, and sisters-in-law, Millie and Bunny. Born March 20, 1932, Les was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who taught us all how to truly appreciate all that life had to offer. Even in later years when his illness caused him complex mobility issues, his irrepressible sense of humour never wavered. Les graduated from the University of Manitoba with the Lieutenant Governor's gold medal in Mechanical Engineering in 1954. He worked for many years for Bristol Aerospace where he was instrumental in the development of the Black Brant rocket program. A career change saw Les move to Assistant Deputy Minister of Small Business with the Manitoba Provincial government until his retirement. Les had a profound devotion to his family and a very special place in his heart for his six grandchildren who were his pride and joy as he attended all their sporting events and concerts until ill health intervened. His desire in life was to be recognized as a simple man with simple tastes, who has a wonderful life and lived much longer than he thought he would with many very happy memories of the family. His hope to see his last grandchild born was an event that made him especially glad. His greatest joy was family gatherings and the special memories of camping trips to northern Manitoba and all the wonderful times spent at the cottage on the Winnipeg River. You were a fabulous fishing guide dad; you always managed to find us the big ones. Although later years proved to be an enormous challenge for Les, he never once complained. He endured his illness with tolerance and exhibited to his family a source of strength and patience to enable us to come to acceptance of his illness. The family wishes to thank Dr. C. Woo and the kind and compassionate staff of the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. Our outmost gratitude is extended to the staff of the ward 5B St. Boniface Hospital with special thanks to nurses Kim and Kathy and Dr. Venkatesan for their professionalism and compassion in keeping Dad comfortable. Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held March 16, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Thomson Funeral Home. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations to the Parkinson Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation are greatly appreciated. You may have thought of yourself as a simple man, but you were an extraordinary man who meant the world to us. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 Broadway~783-7211 www.thomsonfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 15, 2007