DAVE OLIVER

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DAVE OLIVER Suddenly, at his home, on April 26, 2010 Dave Oliver left us. Dad was born on April 26, 1926 to Robert and Kate Oliver. He lived all of his 84 years in Lake Francis. He is survived by children Doug (Arlene), Sandy (Marcel), Barry (Eva), Bryan (Jane), Shelley (Dave), Kim (Mark) and Bev (Ned), 19 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, sisters Grace, Phyl, Alice, and Evelyn (Wally); sisters-in-law Ida and Chris, several nieces nephews and relatives. Dad was predeceased by his wife Cecile of 53 years in 2004, and brothers Alder, Robbie, Lloyd and Dan, and sister Maja. As a kid, Dad often played hooky from school. Instead, he would spend the day running around the countryside snaring rabbits. When the train whistle sounded just before 4:00 p.m., he knew it was time to head home. He was very close to his granny Jane Oliver, who lived with them, and he loved listening to her stories about the old days. We're sure glad you passed a lot of those stories on. Dad would join his mom when she sang and played the piano. It was at her side where he fell in love with music. He bought himself a guitar and taught himself how to play it. Dad loved horses. His favourite horse was Star. He would ride her when he went hunting and he could shoot right off of her back. Dad worked on threshing crews, the reconstruction of Highway 6, bush camps and mines in Ontario before deciding to return to Lake Francis and farm with his parents. In 1951, dad took over the farm. He met Cecile Grandmont while she was teaching at Lake Francis and they married October 27, l95l. Besides farming, dad would often entertain at hotels, rodeos and gatherings. Quite often the party would follow him home and the music would play into the wee hours. Retiring from farming left dad more time to entertain. Going to the retirement homes and entertaining the seniors there was one of his favourite things to do. It also gave him time to learn new instruments. He mastered the fiddle and the banjo, and was in the process of learning the mandolin. Hunting season was always looked forward to. Where it was birds or big game, there were always several guests coming to the farm to join him for the hunt. Dad was a councilor for the RM of Woodlands from 1966 until 1998. He had built or reconstructed the majority of roads in the Lake Francis area. Dad was an honorable man with great integrity and did an incomparable job representing ward 5. His word was his bond. Dad never met a stranger. Everyone was welcome to come inside for a cup of tea . Dad became a pretty good cook. His specialty was rice pudding, tapioca pudding and Dave's baked beans . We will miss talking hockey and football with you. Now who is going to keep Sandy in line? Dad always said, Bury me with my gun and a bottle of whiskey; so I can shoot my way out of Hell and offer Jesus a drink . A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue. Pallbearers are Jim Malcolm, Jeff Blais, Tim Thomas, Mike Thomas, Dave Oliver and Kevin Oliver. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lake Francis Community Centre, Box 36, Lake Francis, Manitoba, R0C 1T0. Play your guitar in heaven, Dad, and make the angels sing. Chapel Lawn 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 29, 2010