ROY WIKLUND

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ROY WIKLUND Peacefully entered into eternal rest on March 14, 2014 in his 91st year at Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He will be forever remembered by his sons - Bruce and his wife Linda (Alana and her husband Warren and Adriane and her husband Steve), Ray and his wife Renee (Raynor and Rachel), Gerry and his wife Jan (Lisa), Ron (Lena and Jenna), Ken and his wife Karen (Ashton, Erika, Colton and Kirsten) and by his sister Ellen and his great- grandchildren Justin, Cody, Van, Hudson, Ben and Meg. He will be sadly missed by his stepchildren - Susan Williams (Dionne and Derek), Tesia Brooks (Taylor) and her partner Phil Hossack, Stephen Williams and his wife Anne (Laura and Julie), Mary Wilson and her husband Doug, (Mark, Jeff and Daniel). Roy was predeceased by his wives Lil and Joan, daughter Joan, stepson Scott, sisters Elsie and Florence and brothers Karl, Albert, Oskar and Alvin. Roy grew up on a farm around Snowflake, Manitoba, the second of eight children to Fred and Milly (nee Scarf). Due to his father's lengthy illness, Roy took on much of the responsibility for running the family farm while still in his early teens. This sense of responsibility was a character strength that remained throughout his life. If family, friends or a local community organization needed a hand, Roy was always there to help. At the outbreak of the Second World War Roy joined the Royal Canadian Engineers. He landed on D-Day and remained active until the war ended. After the war he worked in London and then in Belgium. After returning to Canada he worked for nearly 30 years as the electrical foreman at the air force base in Winnipeg. Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Roy will remember his great ingenuity. He could build or fix just about anything and would often be found in his well-appointed workshop tinkering with one of his many inventions. And while he never made his fortune from any of these creations, family and friends gained much from his talents. Roy and Lil raised six children in a house built by Roy in Charleswood, Manitoba. They were active members of the local community and volunteered for numerous organizations. Roy loved visiting family that over time became spread out across North America. He also took great pleasure making annual winter trips to Texas with his wife Joan where they were able to enjoy the company of his long-time friends Gordon Baxter and Doug Johnson and their wives. Later in life he also enjoyed spending many summer days at the cottage in Kenora with Joan. A special thank you to all the care givers at Deer Lodge Centre, their care and compassion was outstanding and much appreciated. A celebration of life will take place at a later date.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2014