WILLIAM LOWE

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WILLIAM LOWE On November 29, 2011, after a battle with cancer, William Lowe passed away. Dad was born on April 11, 1925 in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba. He grew up in the farm community of Merridale, Manitoba. Dad joined the Canadian army in 1944 at the age of 18. He was selected for the elite First Canadian Parachute Battalion. After training at Camp Shilo he was shipped overseas where he trained as a radio operator. This experience sparked a life long interest in communication and technology. After the war, Dad attended the University of Manitoba and Manitoba Normal School. In 1951, he married Tillie (nee Bugera), his childhood love. Dad taught school for five years before retraining as a radio operator with the Federal Department of Communications. Dad's career took our family to a number of communities in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. We lived in Fort Churchill, Manitoba in the early 1960s when it served as an air base for the early warning systems of the Canadian and American Air Forces. In 1967 Dad accepted a position as a regional inspector in Kenora, Ontario where he remained until his retirement in 1987. Mom and Dad moved to Winnipeg in 2003 to be closer to family. They continued to spend most of their summers on Lake of the Woods, boating, fishing and entertaining friends and family. Dad was an athlete and a musician. In his youth, he participated in most sports and excelled in baseball and track. In later years he was active in curling, skiing and cycling. Dad played many instruments, but will be remembered for his violin. He was involved with many musical groups over the years. Most recently he enjoyed the musical companionship of the Seniors Melody Group. His favourite gigs were after dinner jam sessions with our brother Greg and the other talented musicians in our family. Dad is survived by Tillie, his closest friend and wife of 60 years, his twin brother Steve (Anne), his brother Nat (Dorothy) and his sister Elizabeth. He is predeceased by his brother Dave (Muriel) and his sister Patricia (Les). He is also survived by his sons Jim (Jean), Greg (Josephine) and Patrick, his daughter Jackie (Greg), his grandchildren Mark, Kevin, Scott and Christine and many nieces and nephews who filled both Mom and Dad's life with much joy. Dad's was a life well lived. He always gave and contributed more than he took. He made this world a better place in so many ways. In keeping with Dad's wishes, a family service will be held at a later date.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2011