BERNARD WARREN HAYWARD

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BERNARD WARREN HAYWARD Peacefully, at age 95, Bernard Warren Hayward passed on to be with God on November 3, 2007. Bernard, his wife, sister, mother and father all put their trust in Jesus and their final home is together in Heaven. Dad will be missed by his children, Jean (Bill), Gladys (Peter), May Ann (Eric) and John (Cindy); Poppy will be taught of and thought of by his grandchildren Devin (Nikki), Scott, Sean, Marc, Matthew, Darwin (Pam), Elizabeth, Lauren and Timothy. Born on a homestead in Raymore, Saskatchewan, Bernard and his sister, Eileen were raised by pioneer parents, Jack and Annie Maude, who later moved the family to a farm near Dugald, Manitoba to access schooling for their children. Community and church activities as well as farm chores filled their childhood years. After high school and achieving an Electrical Engineering Certificate (by correspondence), Bernard obtained his private pilot's license by bicycling with his good friend, Harvey McCallum over 17 miles each way to Stevenson Airport in Winnipeg. In 1935, the Royal Canadian Air Force required a university degree for acceptance for training as a pilot, so, Bernard (in 1936) and Harvey (in 1937), crossed the ocean and joined the Royal Air Force in Britain. There, Bernard continued his education in flying (Tiger Moth, Hart trainer, Anson, Whitley and Lancaster) and advanced navigation courses. The pre-war years were marked with lots of flying, many friendships and good times. On September 3, 1939, the night the Second World War was declared; Bernard flew with 51 Squadron dropping leaflets over Germany. In April 1940 his bomber was shot down and during his years as a POW in Germany, Bernard was involved in the Wooden Horse Escape, the Great Escape at Stalg Luft III and, near the end of the war, the forced march away from the advancing front to keep the POW's as hostages. Upon repatriation to Canada, Bernard married a remarkable woman, May Elizabeth (Beth) Kennedy, and together they were successful both in farming and in raising a family of four children, Jean Elizabeth, Gladys Diane Kennedy, May Ann and John William. After retirement in 1977, Beth and Bernard enjoyed many travelling opportunities together until her death in 1982. In 1984, Bernard renewed his pilot's license and resumed flying a Piper Cherokee on bombing raids' while dropping marshmallows for his grandsons. In recent years, Bernard lived with his daughter, Gladys; once again enjoying family life and many wonderful hours were also spent visiting family in British Columbia and Winnipeg. This summer, Bernard moved to Kin Place in Oak Bank where he truly found wonderful care, a warm welcome and a genuine home. A memorial service will be held at Oakbank Baptist Church, 26033 Springfield Road, Oak Bank on Friday, November 9, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. with reception to follow. Many thanks from our family to Dr. Dennis Caners and to the staff from Springfield home care, day program and Kin Place for your care and compassion. Donations may be made, in memory of Bernard Warren Hayward, to the Canadian Red Cross which sent the much needed food parcels to the Second World War POW's.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 07, 2007