GERALD WILLIAM MCDOUGAL

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GERALD WILLIAM MCDOUGAL October 26, 1925 December 29, 2008 With great love and fond memories, the family of Gerry McDougal announces his peaceful death, on December 29, 2008, at Seven Oaks Hospital. Gerry will be greatly missed by his wife Emily; children, Linda (Bob Fidler), Bruce, Rob (Rhonda), Gerry (Kaye); and grandchildren, Troy and Taylor, Tristan (Daven) and Kieran, Lynda (Mike) and Gerry, and their mother Christa. Also left to mourn his passing are his sister Irene Short; and his brother Roy (Sarah) McDougal. Gerry was predeceased by his first wife Simone; his parents, William and Ellen; his brother Stan; and his sisters, Elsie and Gladys. Gerry was born in Winnipeg, growing up in Morse Place and spending most of his adult life in Elmwood. As a young man, Gerry enlisted in the Army during the last two years of the Second World War and spent a year posted in Europe. He fondly remembered his time travelling through France and England during that time, and the chance to meet extended family there. Gerry was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Once back in Winnipeg, Gerry set about to raise a family with his first wife, Simone (nee Cadotte), whom he married on June 25, 1949. Gerry was a hard worker all his life, and renovated and improved every home that his growing family lived in. He worked for 43 years at Burns Meats, moving up from the floor to the office over his career. Gerry's wife, Simone, died accidentally, in January 1980, and Gerry was a source of strength and comfort to his children at this time. Gerry's passions were fishing, camping and travelling, and he spent many happy times in these pursuits with his second wife, Emily (nee Wazny), whom he married on June 13, 1981. Upon retirement, Gerry and Emily moved to Gimli, where they enjoyed the company of new friends and went on many excursions and fishing trips. Gerry suffered a debilitating stroke in 1990, but with family support and his own mental toughness, he regained his quality of life and his sense of humour. Gerry spent his later years back in Elmwood, where he could be found swimming at Concordia pool, dashing around Kildonan Place on his scooter with his bird hat flapping, and searching out bargains for his family. During these years, Gerry loved spending time with his grandchildren, taking them camping and fishing when he could, attending their concerts, buying them toys, and just enjoying their presence at noisy family gatherings. A celebration of Gerry's life will be held at Green Acres Funeral Chapel, #1 Green Acres Lane, on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in Gerry McDougal's name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, Suite 200, 6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0K6 or on-line at www.heartandstroke.mb.ca Green Acres Funeral Home, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 02, 2009