LYALL WILLIAM ROBERTSON

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LYALL WILLIAM ROBERTSON With great sadness, we announce the passing of Lyall, our husband, dad, granddad, and brother, on April 27, 2012. Lyall is remembered by his wife Lil, the love of his life; daughters Shannon and husband Rob, and Colleen; grandsons Eric, Steven, Vincent, Kevin and Kirk; sisters Arline and Adele, many other friends and family. He joins his parents, Ann and Matthew, and brother Lawrence. Dad and Mum met at Harry's restaurant, dated for four years, and were married in 1956. They called Winnipeg home, except for five early years in Dauphin. Family travel was their great pleasure: road trips in Canada, the U.S.; flights to Arizona, Victoria, and Disney World. Together they enjoyed watching their kids and grandkids grow up. We are very proud of who Dad was. Loving us all, he was never afraid to say so. Over time, he looked after Mum, his parents, the rest of us. He helped with homework and heartaches. His love and pride showed in his interest in our lives. He visited our homes and attended our special events, leaving us irreplaceable memories in family movies, endless photos, and notes quoting his grandsons' childhood wisdoms . When illness prevented him from doing physical tasks, he kept helping in so many ways. Our comfort and our rock - he supported us in sorrows and difficulties, celebrating our joys and successes. Dad showed us how to love the simple, sweet pleasures of life: watching summer thunderstorms through a screen door; eating peas from the pod in the garden. He laughed at good sitcoms, cried unabashedly at sad movies, sang lullabies to all of the family's babies. We will forever treasure his telling of adventures and antics as a boy and young man: growing up in Elmwood; visiting farm cousins near Minnedosa; playing baseball; working on the Great Whale River; and many others. Taking pride in his work, he was never without it, recounting a long list of jobs held as a youth, often more than one at a time. Dad worked at MTS from age 18 to his 1990 retirement, making many friends of colleagues. He believed in responsibility and honesty. With courage and optimism, Dad stubbornly survived his health conditions to stay with those he loved for years longer than anyone expected. He remained a source of cheer to us during that time. We continued to laugh with him, love him and enjoy his company in visits, phone calls, skyping; even in hospital rooms, doctors offices. We can't possibly say how deeply he'll be missed by us all. A gathering in celebration of Lyall's life will be held at the Canad Inns, 1824 Pembina Hwy., on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada would be greatly appreciated. To Lyall, Dad, Granddad, One of the last things you asked of us: be happy, not sad. You needn't worry - you showed us how to laugh, love and live, even when times get rough. We'll miss you so, but are glad we had so many years with you. You were loving, strong and brave, supporting and protecting us. We'll love you forever.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 12, 2012