ROBERT JAMES WINTER

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ROBERT JAMES WINTER April 28, 1963 - December 28, 2007 Robert James Winter passed away December 28, 2007, in the midst of family at his home, after a short but intense fight with an aggressive cancer. He will be dearly missed by his wife Sandra (Sandy Pratt) and both of their families. Joining Sandra in mourning this untimely loss are his parents David and Anne Winter; his sister Josephine (Will) Winterfeld, Eli, Misha, and Isaac; his brother Ron (Sonya) Wu-Winter and Sophia. Also included is Sandy's family, her mother Rejeanne Pratt; her sister Sue Anne; her brother Norman (Veronica), Janet and Lisa; and her brother James (Gail), Ryan and Kylie, all from Ontario. Many of his constant friends were able to encourage him in his final journey during the last several weeks. Robert grew up in the Morden area, later graduating from Rosthern Junior College in Saskatchewan. From there he went on to Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, and then to the University of Western Ontario where he graduated in business administration. He later completed his studies as a Chartered Accountant and worked for several accounting firms, most recently he worked as comptroller for Northern Blower in Winnipeg. Robert was always a lover of adventure, of the outdoors, of cooking, and of exercising his building skills, usually for someone else's benefit. Canoeing and camping were high on his priority list and he was fortunate to find a mate that shared those loves. He has navigated many white water rivers of the far north as well as shorter Manitoba courses. Together with Sandy he canoed, he camped, he hiked, he biked, he swam and they prepared many gourmet meals, either on the trails or in their backyard. Cross-country skiing, winter camping, and more recently some curling, filled the winter months. He was a dedicated and loyal worker, but always made sure that his jobs provided for adequate vacation times to exercise his passions. They spent several quality days camping with friends the weekend before his scheduled major surgery. Many other dream ventures, unfortunately, were not to materialize. His love for the outdoors and adventure also translated into quality volunteering. He was introduced to Manitoba Pioneer Camp as a child and remained loyal to them throughout his life. The building and maintenance committees received countless days of volunteer help from him. Many of the buildings there bear the unmistakable stamp of quality of Rob. Habitat for Humanity, at which he spent several years as Mennonite Central Committee support staff, and later as a volunteer on various committees, benefited from his energetic striving for quality, as well as his organizational skills in the Jimmy Carter blitz build. He spent more than a year volunteering for Jubilee Partners in Georgia, an organization that works with refugees entering the United States. Through them he also got involved in several Pastors for Peace efforts that traveled through the United States collecting aid and vehicles from various supporting churches as they worked their way south to the eventual destination in Nicaragua in the early 90s. Currently he was serving on the Board of the local L'Arche Community. A deep fundamental faith that expressed itself more in action than in words allowed him to accept his unwelcome course with courage, peace and dignity. He was most moved by the acts of kindness and of love that friends and family members demonstrated to him in some of their recent visits, and especially at the sending party that they celebrated with him in his home shortly before his death. With deep reluctance, and yet with gratitude, those left behind also finally accept this loss. We are grateful for the compassionate care received from CancerCare Manitoba, the St. Boniface Hospital doctors and staff, and especially from the Palliative Care staff that served him at his home. Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 4, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 870 Carter Street. Viewing will be held on Thursday, January 3 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a short meditation at 7:15 p.m. at Friends Funeral Service, 2146 Main Street, and prior to the service. Contributions to a commemorative scrapbook for Rob would be welcome. In lieu of flowers, if friends wish, donations can be made to a special commemorative Rob building project at Manitoba Pioneer Camp, 640 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0X3. FRIENDS FUNERAL SERVICE 2146 Main Street 339-5555

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 02, 2008