CLARENCE ALBERT (TOM) NEWSTROM

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

CLARENCE ALBERT (TOM) NEWSTROM After a courageous three year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), our father, grandfather died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at Deer Lodge Centre at the age of 87 years. Remaining to forever cherish Tom's memory are his sons, Bob (Helen), Jeff (Judy) and daughter Helen Davis (Lyle Boyd); grand-children, Jennifer (Scott), Jenelle (Tim), Mandy (Ryan), Melanie, Pamela and Travis; great-grandchildren, Zachary, Lisa and Devon. Also left is the Boyd family who Dad spent many holidays with; Ed and Merle, Diane (Marc Payette), Linda, Al and Jan, Nicole and Roman Benes and Scott. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret Henrietta (Marge) in July 1999; his parents, Harold Albert and Hildur (Markusson); sisters, Inga, Bernice and Helen and brother Trevor. Tom was born November 6, 1921 as Clarence Albert Nyström in St. James, Manitoba, the second child of Harold and Hildur (Helen). Times were tough in the 1930s and Tom left school to find work to help out the family. In 1938 at the age of 17 he joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signalman with the 2nd Battalion Saskatoon. It was in Saskatchewan that he met his wife Marge who he married on December 20, 1940 before heading off for training in Kingston, ON. He served in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy under General Montgomery for the duration of the Second World War in the rank of Signalman. He was discharged in 1946 and re-enlisted first in the Army as a Sergeant and then transferred to the Air Force. He was stationed in Vancouver, Calgary, Oshawa, Ajax, Anahiem, CA, Toronto, Winnipeg and Gimli before retiring as a Warrant Office in 1969 after 30 years service. Settling in Winnipeg he went on to work in real estate, Fisheries Canada and Supply and Services Canada before finally retiring in the 1980s. Tom enjoyed spending time with his family and spent summers going camping and fishing. He was a Boy Scout leader and an avid hockey fan. He loved working with his hands and could usually be found in the garage building something or off helping a friend or neighbour. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A graveside service for Tom will be held on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Brookside Cemetery, 3001 Notre Dame Avenue. For those who wish, please gather at the cemetery entrance at 1:45 p.m. Tom's family extends special thanks to the staff of T5 of Deer Lodge Centre for their kindness and compassionate care and to the staff of The ALS Society at Deer Lodge Centre. Flowers gratefully declined but memorial donations if so desired may be made in Tom's name to The ALS Society of Manitoba, 2109 - 108 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3J 0L3 or a charity of your choice. TO THOSE I LOVE AND THOSE WHO LOVED ME When I am gone, release me, let me go... I have so many things to see and do. You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears: Be happy that we had so many years. I gave to you my love, you can only guess How much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown. But now it's time I travelled on alone. So grieve a while for me if grieve you must; Then let your grief be comforted by trust. It's only for a while that we must part, So bless the memories within your heart. I won't be far away, for life goes on; So if you need me, call and I will come, Though you can't see me or touch me, I'll be near And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear, All of my love around you soft and clear. And then, when you must come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile and say, WELCOME HOME

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 28, 2009