DAVID LLOYD MACKLING

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DAVID LLOYD MACKLING With sadness we announce the passing of David Lloyd Mackling, on November 10, 2012, with family at his side, at St. Boniface Hospital. David was born on September 7, 1920. He was born and educated in St. James at Britannia, Assiniboine and Linwood schools. David (Dave) was greatly influenced by his Welsh mother, Anne Gertrude, who named him after a famous countryman, David Lloyd George. Our mom loved to sing and so some of my fondest memories are when she and us kids would gather together in the kitchen to try to harmonize with her leading us in old songs. In his early teens, Dave met his cowboy friend Dave Lord, who introduced him to Western songs, and so, before long he was singing and yodelling western-style and became well known on the local amateur night circuit, also performing with a group The Western Kiddies'. In the fifties, Dave and his three brothers joined the Winnipeg Chapter SPEBSQSA in the hope that they could sing as a quartet. Despite a good attempt, they decided that it would not work but continued to sing in the Winnipeg Chapter Chorus. Dave pursued quartetting and sang with the Winnicords', and later the Pine Tones' as well as serving on the executive of the Chapter, including a year as president. The Pine Tones also appeared in Rainbow Stage's and Hollow Mug's The Music Man' presentations. It was during the Vietnam War that Dave became active in the Peace Movement and served as chairman of the Manitoba Peace Council. He was a delegate to the World Peace Council Conference in Moscow, Warsaw and Sofia, Bulgaria. It was while visiting those socialist countries that Dave became convinced that some type of socialism could be the answer to people's problems. An attempt to foster better relations with the Socialist countries led to Dave becoming active in the Canada - USSR Association, where he served as President of the Winnipeg Branch for many years. As an active supporter of Trade Unions, Dave served on the executive of CUPE Local #694 a broadcast division of CBC Winnipeg, where he worked as a scenic constructor, then scenic constructor crew leader, retiring in 1985 after 30 years of service. After a short visit to Cuba in March 1972, Dave became an active supporter of the Cuban people and on his yearly visits, always took along some much-needed items to support his socialist brothers and sisters'. As an active member of the Manitoba Cuba Solidarity Committee, he participated in many of the Pastors for Peace' Caravans which each year convoyed much-needed items to Cuba, in an effort to persuade the United States to lift its immoral and illegal blockade of that beleaguered island. Dave is survived by his beloved, devoted partner of 26 years, Jeanne Romanoski, brother Al (Pat), daughter Janis Denney (Dennis), son Ross (Bonnie), Paul Romanoski, grandchildren John Denney (Allison), Greg Mackling (Jackie), Kevin (Lisa), and Christopher (Ashleigh), Derrick Cousins (Siobhan), and Jill Britton, as well as many great-grandchildren, Helene and Demetra Denney, Katya, Alia, Alexander, Brendan and Jade Mackling, William Ritchie, Melissa and Miranda Cousins, Zack Britton. He is also survived by a very special niece Karen Romanoff and numerous nieces and nephews He is predeceased by first wife Ruth, brothers Carl and Earl, sister Elsie, and granddaughter Lynne Gerbrandt (nee Denney). Special thanks to Doctor Shaikh and staff of 5 South, St. Boniface Hospital. At his wish, David has donated his remains to the University of Manitoba, Department of Anatomy. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 16 at the Ukrainian Labour Temple, 591 Pritchard Ave., Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, or a charity or organization of one's choice.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 14, 2012