WILLIAM JAMES (BILL) MACLEOD

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WILLIAM JAMES (BILL) MACLEOD October 13, 1914 - June 22, 2008 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our loving husband and father Pipe Major William James (Bill) MacLeod at the Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg on Sunday, June 22, 2008. He was born and raised in Winnipeg and is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Mary (Cook), his daughter Bonnie of Winnipeg, his son William (Sandy) of Calgary, daughters Roberta of Winnipeg and Jean of Pine Falls, two sisters Margaret and Isobel and a brother Fred, all of British Columbia. He was predeceased by his first loving wife of 29 years, Islay (Beaton) in 1975 and his brother Donald of Vancouver in 1997. Bill joined the active armed services on September 2, 1939 and served in Britain and northwestern Europe during the Second World War with the First Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg. As his military career progressed, he became the Pipe Major of the First Battalion regimental pipe band until his return to civilian life in 1946. During his overseas service, Bill received training at the famous Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle under Pipe Major William Ross. Bill married Islay (Beaton) of Brandon in January, 1946 and following a brief residence in Winnipeg while employed with the Winnipeg Electric Company and Trans-Canada Airlines, moved to Pine Falls in April, 1947 to work in the electrical department at the Abitibi paper mill. He and Islay raised their family and settled into an active community life until Islay's untimely passing. Bill retired from Abitibi in 1979. Bill married Mary (Cook) of Pine Falls in October, 1984 and together they enjoyed many mutually happy years of community life in Pine Falls, as well as travelling throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. In many ways, Pine Falls provided an ideal setting for Bill's life. He enjoyed his ability to hunt and fish in this beautiful part of the country and found much satisfaction in selflessly serving fellow employees and the community at large through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Pine Falls Girl's Band, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Pine Falls United Church, the Pine Falls Game and Fish Association, and the Masonic Lodge. Bill was the piper. He received his initial instruction on the great highland bagpipe at the age of 13 from his father, Pipe Major Donald MacLeod and composed his last tune this past December. His life-long goal was to promote that music form to the best of his abilities and to that end instructed hundreds of piping students throughout Western Canada helping to create excellent and well recognized pipe bands in the process. He instructed at and later became the Principal of the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts piping program in Fort Qu'appelle, Saskatchewan, as well as instructing at the International Music Camp Summer School of the Arts at the International Peace Gardens on the Manitoba / North Dakota border. He also served as the President of the Prairie Pipe Band Association. Bill modestly received lifetime recognition for his contributions with his 1991 induction into the Provincial Order of the Buffalo Hunt and his receipt of the Manitoba Good Citizenship award presented by Lt. Gov. B. Jobin in 1979. A long life well lived - To quote Bill: You're never alone if you have music along. The music of my life is my wife and my family. His family wishes to extend their gratitude for the care provided to our husband and father by the staff at the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Pine Falls Hospital, the Sturgeon Creek II Senior's Residence, The Grace Hospital and The Deer Lodge Centre. A memorial service will be celebrated for Bill at 2:00 p.m., June 30, 2008 at the Pine Falls United Church, Suite B-5, Walnut Street, Pine Falls, MB. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society Manitoba Division; 193 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7. RUSSELL's of Beausejour, Manitoba Are in care of arrangements 1-866-424-6271 toll free or 268-2263 CANADIAN INDEPENDENT since 1941

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 28, 2008