ALEXANDER RAMSAY MCINTOSH

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ALEXANDER RAMSAY MCINTOSH Alexander Ramsay McIntosh, born April 18, 1924, passed away July 8, 2015 at the age of 91. Ramsay leaves his loving wife Lorraine, his children Paul and Leslie, his grandchildren Kristin, Scott, JD, Rod and Stephen, and four great-grandchildren Beatrice, Sofie, Abigail, and Oceana. He is also survived by his sisters Evelyn and Mary and their families. He spent the last four months of his life in the Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home under the watchful eyes of the wonderful staff there. His niece Catherine Campbell spent hours holding his hand and reassuring him during his last days and we are indebted to her for her kindness. Ramsay was born in Winnipeg and lived in Great Falls and later moved to Lac du Bonnet with his mother Viola and father Alex. He was the older brother to Evelyn and Mary. He lived out his entire life on the family farm. He attended the University of Manitoba where he studied Agriculture and played hockey. He married Lorraine Dow in 1946 and together they raised three children. Tragically they lost their precious son Scott in an accident but they continued a busy and productive life despite their loss. Dad was an incredibly hard worker and he reinvented the farm several times. At one time he was one of the the largest suppliers of dehydrated alfalfa in the prairies. He kept cattle on the farm until the mid 1960s and always grew grain and hay. He worked side by side with his son Paul as long as he was able. When he finished his own work he began his work for the community. He served on the school board, as a councillor, and helped to run and grow the Lac du Bonnet Volunteer Fire Department. He was instrumental in the formation of the Lakers Ski Club and the Lac du Bonnet Power Toboggan Club in it's earliest days. He never missed a chance to volunteer to repair the roof or floor of the Anglican Church or to help a neighbour build a porch or a fence. He was always there in the middle of the night when a farmer knocked on his door for a fan belt or a tool. Ramsay and Lorraine spent many winters in Florida in their Southern home. But he didn't stop working despite his new location. He built so many porches and fixed so many mobile homes that he lost count. He would never accept a penny for any of his help. One couple in Boynton Beach tried to give him their old Cadillac because he had done so much for them. He liked the Cadillac very much so he took it but then deposited it's full value in their bank account much to their dismay. He truly loved to work. Ramsay also loved to dance and socialize. Our home was often the scene of the "after party" which featured Betty Dancyt or Mom on the piano, Ray Foubert on the banjo and one of the Meilleurs on the fiddle. There were other musicians who we can't recall but they were great parties and Ramsay was the consummate host. Music moved him until the very end. Long after he had stopped talking he would still sing the chorus of "King of the Road" when we played it on the CD player in his room at the Personal Care Home. In later years he loved his coffee times at the Chicken Chef and would never miss it. He would always have a story to tell when he returned. He was a man of great physical strength even into his senior years. His friends Arvid and Herbie Dancyt told us many years ago that they bet him at a dance one night that he couldn't pick up the back of his pickup truck. They lost a dollar each and Dad had to go home and change his pants because he tore them open while doing his lift. Dad was generous to a fault with his family. He thought of himself last in every instance. We never saw him want anything for himself in his entire life. His aspirations were for his family and he would sacrifice anything for them. He would do anything for his children Leslie and Paul. We are forever grateful for his dedication to us. He loved babies more than anything and we have many pictures of him with one of his five grandchildren on his lap and a loving smile on his face. He was also a famous grouch as they got older and began to talk too much. Dad, the work is all done. The hay is stacked just the way you like it. The machinery is all fixed and in good order. The grass is cut, the oil is changed in your truck and it's full of gas just in case you need to lend it to someone. Your family is safe and warm and they all have 20 bucks in their pocket in case something comes up. The garden is watered and the wheat is growing. It's your turn to rest. Thank you for everything. Please join us in celebration of Ramsay's life on July 27, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Lac du Bonnet Legion. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ramsay's name to the Lac du Bonnet Food Bank.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 18, 2015