LEN SIGURDSON

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LEN SIGURDSON (LEONARD GUDNI) 1931 - 2016 On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, after an eight month battle with lung cancer, Len passed away peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital. He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his beloved wife of 58 years, Mary (Little); their children: Karen Bachewich (Brad), John, Lynn Prosser (Steve), and Rob (Sarah); his grandchildren: Jessica, Pamela, Lisa and Michael; Jodi, Andrew and Cori; Georgia and Erik (Leslie, their mother); great-grandchildren Sadilyn and Olivia (mom - Jodi); sister, Eleanor Wilson (Harry); brother, Dennis (Barbara); brother-in-law Harry Kabernagel, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Also, his fur grandbabies, Chloe, Tilly and Toby. Len was predeceased by his parents Gudni Haldor and Kristin Wilhemine (Johnson); grandson Scott Zaikow (mom - Karen), and sister Doreen Kabernagel. Len was born in Winnipeg on November 16, 1931. In his early teens, he started playing hockey at Lord Roberts Community Centre. At Kelvin High School, he was on the Rugby team. While going to the University of Manitoba, he played both hockey and football and was a player on the Letellier Maple Leafs. In 1954, he was with the Winnipeg Rams when they won the Canadian International Senior Championship. In 2013, the 1954 Winnipeg Rams were inducted into the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame. He graduated with a Degree in Science. In 1955, he entered Engineering at McGill University, where he was a member of the Scarlet Key and Phi Epsilon Alpha. He played football and hockey and received several awards. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering in the spring of 1958. On June 14, 1958, he married Mary, who he had met at the University of Manitoba. They first lived in Regina when he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Len was their first choice in the National Canadian College Draft in 1958, but was cut after playing one exhibition game. Leaving Regina, he worked in the pulp and paper industry in Quebec City, Trois-Rivières and Missoula, MT. In 1970, he moved back to Winnipeg with Mary and his four children and worked with the MDC. His love for the sports of hockey and baseball continued into coaching with Kirkfield Westwood Community Club. His "work hard and have fun" attitude rubbed off on many boys and girls including his two sons who he coached in hockey and one daughter who he coached in softball. Len was a modest man who would start a conversation with anyone, anytime, anyplace. He would always help others without having to be asked to do so. Our deepest gratitude to the staff of the Palliative Care Unit at the St. Boniface Hospital and the Palliative Care Team for their compassion and care. In keeping with Len's wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no service. If you want to honour him, do so by raising a glass of beer or scotch and share your memories of "Big Sig", or lend a helping hand to one in need. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. GODA NOTT ELSKAN MIN (Good night my love) Funeral Arrangements in Care of: Wheeler Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematorium 1800 Day Street - 204-224-1525 Please sign the book of memories at www.wheelerfuneral.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 30, 2016