WILLIAM JOHN FLAWS

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WILLIAM JOHN FLAWS Bill was born on September 4, 1934 and spent his childhood near Gladstone, MB, before moving with his family to Winnipeg as a teenager in 1950. Bill passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at the Grace Hospital after a brief, courageous battle with colorectal cancer. He started working at a paper box manufacturing plant when he was 18 and over the 42 years he was employed there the company changed hands many times; operating as Crown Packaging (now Cascades Folding Cartons) when he retired as the Plant Manager in 1996. He was highly respected by all his staff, for his calm, gentle leadership skills. Never being afraid to take on a challenge, Pat and Bill built their own home in St. Vital in the early 1970s where their children grew up and went to school. Family and friends spent many memorable hours in their backyard pool. After retiring, he became bored and took on various odd jobs, the main one being as supervisor of Kenaston Estates for two and one half years. When he turned 65 it was time to live in their own home again, they found the home of their dreams in Charleswood where he could watch the deer and other wildlife frolic at the side of their home. He enjoyed home renovations and fixed up their home so that their children and grandchildren had a place to spend together (at times with all 10 grandchildren sleeping at the house overnight). He was an avid Bomber and Jets fan and loved doing VIP Driving for various special events in Winnipeg including the Grey Cup, Pan Am Games, skating, world hockey, curling events, Aboriginal games, etc. and other volunteer jobs at the Bomber games. He loved spending time with family and friends and meeting new people from all over the world. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife Pat, (together they would have celebrated their 50th year of marriage in July), and his children: Candace (Don) Purvis (Carlsbad, NM); Corinne Halajko (E. St. Paul); Wendy (Ananh) Khou (St. Vital), and Garth (Meera) Flaws (Oak Bluff); as well as his grandchildren: Kyle, Drew; Brie and Brittany Purvis; Brett and Alanna Halajko; Jillian, Sydney, Craig McRae and Lindsay Khou; his sister Evelyn Gyles (Norm) and brother Larry (Alison); brothers-in-law, Bill (Myrna) Fitchett, Norm (Vera) Gellert and well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his parents Frank and Eva Flaws in 2005, mother-in-law Lydia Gellert, brother and sisters-in-law, Elsie (Max) Moysey, Myrt (Bill) Redwood, Ernie (Eileen) Gellert, and Audrey (Ken) Merritt. If friends so desire, donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Grace CancerCare Fund c/o the Grace Hospital Foundation. The family would like to thank Dr. Pat Harris, and the wonderful team at Grace CancerCare and the fabulous team at Grace Hospital. Cremation has taken place. A family graveside service at Oak Bluff Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. and a celebration of his life at the Oak Bluff Hall (McGillivray Boulevard Hwy. 2) will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Morris Funeral Home 746-2451 Toll Free 1-866-746-2451

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 02, 2008