DAVID SPENCE

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DAVID SPENCE May 26, 1931 February 11, 2008 The time was right on Monday, February 11, 2008, at the E.M. Crowe Memorial Hospital in Eriksdale MB. Dave left us to make that one last trip home. Dave was born and raised in the Pebble Beach area. In his early years he worked for surrounding farmers. This led to the beginning of his driving career. He started out by driving for Art Forsythe hauling livestock and Eriksdale Freighters hauling cream for the creameries. He met and married his wife Loretta in 1955 and they started their family later that same year. Dave drove taxi cab for Duffy's in Winnipeg but with his ever growing family he decided it was best to bring everyone home from the big city and raise his family in the country. To support that theory he went to work up north driving the big truck up at the Kelsey and Limestone Dams for Hydro. He did this job for 10 years until he suffered a back injury which brought him back home to help finish raising his family. He started his own little hobby farm at this time with a steer, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese for butchering in the fall and a cow for milk and cream. Whatever we didn't use got sold after the freezer was full. He had a soft spot in him for family pets. He was their master and they all knew it. No dog was as loyal as his dogs. Dave loved early mornings playing solitaire and listening to the weather on CFRY followed by a nap on his couch until his programs on television started. Not a Sunday would pass without listening to the Sunday Request Show on CFRY. Visiting or talking on the phone with his family and friends or having family and friends visit his house was a favourite time for him. No visitor ever left thirsty or hungry. His homemade wine was some of the best we hear. Dave had many loves and interests in his life but his greatest love was his family. Making sure his children wanted for nothing was his biggest concern. If he had it, and you needed it, he gave it to you with no questions asked. He was one of a kind and going on without him is a journey we will have to learn to take. With our hearts full of memories we won't do it alone. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 53 years Loretta, his children Sandra, Joyce (Mark), Sharon, Rodney (Eleanor), James (Deloris), Robert (Doris), Garry (Annette), Jo-Anne, Kimberley (Henry), Heather, Laureen (Pete), Lucinda (Jim); his 45 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his brother Stanley; his sister Violet; sisters-in-law, Malvina and Ellen Jane; special friends, Scottie, Keith, and Wilfred, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous good friends. Dave was predeceased by his son Ken; his mother Rose; his brothers, Dan, Jim, Elmer, Ivor, Norman, and his stepfather Lawrence. A viewing for immediate family will be held on Sunday, February 17, 2008, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Arnason's Funeral Home in Ashern. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 18, 2008, at the Ashern Legion with Melanie Kauppila officiating. Viewing will be held one hour prior to the service at the hall. Service will conclude at the hall with cremation to follow. Active Pallbearers will be George Taylor, Bill Taylor, Mark Morin, Bruce Pottinger, Randy Pottinger, and Ivan Hoosier. Honorary Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Robert Ian Spence and Christopher Spence, and his brother William (Stanley) The family would like to express our dearest thank you to every single staff member at the Eriksdale Personal Care Home and the Eriksdale Hospital. Each and every one of you touched our Dad's life in your own unique way. Whether you were the maintenance guy, the kitchen staff, the activities coordinator, the cleaning staff, the nurse or the health care aide or the doctor please accept our thanks as you were all amazing. The care you showed our Dad was always above and beyond. Please know that it was recognized and appreciated. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Activities Department at the Eriksdale Personal Care Home in care of Sharon Thorgilsson, Box 130, Eriksdale, MB R0C 0W0. Arrangements by: Arnason Funeral Home Ltd. Ashern - Lundar 1-204-768-2072

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 16, 2008