ANTONIO (TONY) FRANCISCO MORIEN

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ANTONIO (TONY) FRANCISCO MORIEN It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Tony Morien, on June 12, 2008 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Predeceased by his mother (Emma), father (Luis), and brother (Frank), Tony is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Margaret, his Aunt Stella, Uncle Don, sisters Ethel and June, daughter Carol-Ann (Ron), sons Blaine (Natalie) and Murray (Brenda), grandchildren Angela (Drew), Shannon (Jeromy), Ryan (Joanne), Michael, and Christopher, four great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Tony was born in Lindsay, Ontario on September 14, 1919 and grew up in the foothills of Alberta southwest of Calgary. Although a bright and ambitious student, the demands and hardships of the Depression meant an early departure from high school to help support his family. In the late 1930s, while still a teenager, Tony and his brother, Frank, purchased and moved to a small ranch near Kevisville, Alberta. While Frank remained on the ranch for many years, Tony left to join the army in 1941, and eventually enlisted in the RCAF in 1942 (wherein began his lifelong passion for airplanes). There, he headed the class of aircraftsmen, graduating from St. Thomas Technical Training School, receiving a Gold medal in acknowledgement of his high standing. After a medical discharge in 1943, he found himself in Winnipeg where he began a 31-year career with Trans-Canada Airlines (now Air Canada) in both Winnipeg and Montreal. Tony met nursing student, Nicki (Margaret) Nichols, in 1948. They were married November 4, 1950. Initially settling in St. James, the family (and the chinchillas) eventually outgrew their first house and moved to Charleswood. There, with the help of friends and family, they built their dream home - a place where you would always find a warm welcome, a pot of tea, cookies for the kids, and most of all, love. Upon his retirement from Air Canada in 1974, Tony and his family returned to Winnipeg. After a short retirement, he resumed his interest in airplanes restoring passenger aircraft for Beaver Enterprises. This eventually led to his involvement with the fledgling Western Canadian Aviation Museum. The museum became his second home and there he poured his energies, eventually becoming the Director of Restoration. In 1992, he received the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada in recognition of his many volunteer hours. He remained at the WCAM until a severe stroke in June of 2007 curtailed his hands-on activities there. Despite the impairments brought on by the stroke, his interest in the restoration projects remained strong. In addition to his love affair with all things aeronautical, Tony was a strong family man who quietly supported family and friends with his wisdom, strength, and morals. Never one to remain idle, Tony engaged in many hobbies, including carpentry, gardening, chinchilla breeding (he was past president of the Manitoba Chinchilla Breeders Association), completing jigsaw puzzles, solving crossword puzzles, and reading. In these things, too, he strove for perfection. The family would like to thank the staff of the Health Sciences Centre for the care and compassion extended to Papa during and following his recent surgery. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Winnipeg Harvest.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 21, 2008