DENZIL W. GAMBLE

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DENZIL W. GAMBLE Peacefully on Monday, April 28, 2008 Denzil Gamble passed away at the Portage and District General Hospital at the age of 79 years. He was predeceased by his loving wife Pat, sister Lois (Sharpe), son-in-law Graham Crawford and brothers-in-law, Donald Sharpe of Kapuskasing, Lawrence Brown Tough of Winnipeg and Kenneth Tough of Calgary. Left to celebrate his fabulous life are children: daughter Marci Crawford of Portage la Prairie; daughter Margrette Alaethea Ryan of Winnipeg, son Denzil (Corinne) of Winnipeg; daughter Penni (Gord) Scramstad of Winnipeg; and daughter Patti (John) Norman of Rosenort; grandchildren, Chris (Sherri), Carl, Eric, Christophe, Lindsey (Michal), Edmond, Carl, Tabitha, Samantha, Denzil, Keiran, Karley (Andres) and Jacqueline (Tyler), great-grandchildren, Miles, Mitchell, Robert, Keanan and Joshua, brother-in-law Donald (Lois) Tough; sisters-in-law, Margaret (Herbert) Lovstrom, Beryl Tough and Norma Tough along with many nieces and nephews. Denzil was born May 28, 1928 in Kapuskasing, ON at Sensinbrenner Hospital. He thoroughly enjoyed hunting, reading! fishing, reading! hiking, reading! boating and more reading! He played blues and jazz on the piano for years with his buddies in the bar circuit. Wherever we went in our travels, where there was a piano, Denzil would strike up a boogie. Denzil joined the R.C.A.F. in 1948 and after attending classes in Wireless, Gunnery and Navigation he became a Radio-Navigator on the Avro Arrow. He was stationed and trained at many air force bases across Canada. Denzil was honourably discharged as a Flying Officer in 1954 at Vancouver. He then attended and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Education. Denzil loved his chosen career as a teacher. He taught at Moscrop Junior High in Vancouver before he and his family went to Kugluktuk (Coppermine), NWT where he was Principal for two years. He transferred to Day School at Hay River and became Vice-Principal, moving his family with him. There he was active on the Town Council and the Kiwanis Club. Denzil and his family moved to Brandon in 1968, where he taught at Neelin High School and then moved on to Westbourne where he taught at Portage Collegiate Institute until his retirement in 1993. Denzil and his wife Pat were always very involved in the history of the area and co-authored many books. Throughout his life he served on many boards and societies including the Fort la Reine Museum. Recently he became actively involved with teaching English as a second language at the Portage Learning Centre. This experience revitalized his life and in turn he learned much from the wonderful friends he'd made. Funeral Service will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. led by Wilma Shirriff. As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Denzil's memory to The Library Fund at Portage Collegiate Institute, 35 4th Street SW, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 2E7 or to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, c/o Catherine Newham Portage Office, 103 Wilkinson Crescent, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1A7. A tree will be planted and cared for in memory of Denzil by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel who are in care of arrangements. 857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 01, 2008