WILLIAM KEITH MCCOWAN

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WILLIAM KEITH MCCOWAN William Keith McCowan passed away early in the morning of June 24, 2016 at St. Boniface Hospital. Bill was born on May 25, 1929 to William and Gladys (Bareham) McCowan. He lived in Fort Garry along with his three younger brothers. The family moved to West Kildonan, where Bill met many of his life-long friends. As a young man, Bill excelled in hockey and almost played professionally after his years of organized hockey. In high school he also competed in championship soccer. Along with sports, Bill started working at a young age. He became "the man of the house" from 1942 while his dad served overseas during the war. He had a paper route and made deliveries for a bakery by bike. At fifteen, Bill got a summer job in the accounts office for No. 2 Training Command of the R.C.A.F. After work hours, he tried out the Air Cadets and Camp Shilo, where he learned to drive trucks and armored cars, which gave him his civilian driver's license. When his father returned from the war, Bill was sixteen and taller than his dad. He worked that summer at Blackwood Bottling, driving an Orange Crush truck. Graduating high school at West Kildonan Collegiate, he was awarded the Governor General's Scholarship and was class valedictorian. Then, to pay his way through university, Bill had summer jobs working for the CNR in Alberta and BC as a steam ditcher operator, a watchman, a fireman, a dragline oiler and as a crane operator. He had many tales of close calls during these jobs. Bill recounted how on one warm moonlit night, he and three other workers went for a swim in a reservoir and it was great until they were startled by a forth head swimming toward them. The men flailed like crazy and hit the shore running. Told that there were bears all around the area, they armed themselves with shovels and went to recover their clothes. They didn't go swimming there again. The summer before finishing university, Bill stayed in Winnipeg and worked as an plasterer's apprentice. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba in 1950. The major spring flooding of that year meant all graduation ceremonies were cancelled at the university and Bill joined other young men in helping with sand-bagging operations. That summer, he and his high school sweetheart, Margaret Skene, got married on August 18. The couple started married life in West Kildonan and just over a year later their first child, Bill Jr., was born. They moved to East Kildonan and the family continued with daughter Daryl, son Colin and daughter Patricia. Along with family and work, Bill's life included favourite leisure activities such as games of golf with his "Dirty Dozen" buddies at Rossmere Golf and Country Club, trips with his hunting buddies and fly-in fishing trips in Manitoba and Ontario. Bill also loved the sport of gambling, which included many wonderful trips to Las Vegas and as a part-owner of race horses, many times in the Winner's Circle at Assiniboia Downs. Bill was employed in the garment industry and in 1964 started his own company, Squire Manufacturing. As the business grew, he added partners Itz Jacob and Jeff Black, who became long-time friends. Squire successfully produced outerwear until 1979, when Bill was able to sell the company and take early retirement. Together, Bill and Marg traveled to many parts of Canada and the US, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Japan, Europe and his grandparents' homestead in Perth, Scotland. They also spent many summers at West Hawk Lake with a large and sociable group of friends. The parties continued at their North Kildonan home on Ranch Place on the patio and in the pool. Over the years, they hosted many dinner parties for family and friends that lasted long into the wee hours. Bill often enjoyed telling bad jokes, much to Margaret's dismay! He loved being able to give advice to anyone who needed help. Wherever Bill and Margaret lived, he became "Neighbour Bill" and knew everyone in very short order. From his years in business, Bill was fastidious in his accounting methods. He actually enjoyed doing income tax for family and friends, usually in exchange for fish, deer meat, or his favorite bottle of Bacardi. Bill enjoyed a life of good health until his late seventies, when major surgery created a number of difficult challenges. He fought as best he could, with Margaret providing loving, at-home care for close to a decade. Devoted to his family, Bill was very proud of his children and grandchildren and their milestones and achievements. And during the last year of his life he was happy to point out to people that "Marg and I have been married for 65 years, you know!" Bill was predeceased by his parents, his father-in-law Andrew Skene and mother-in-law Dorothy (Smallwood) Skene; his brothers, Bruce, Gary and Gordon; his brothers-in-law, Bill McLeod and Jim Cassie and his sister-in-law Mary McLeod. Bill is survived by his wife Margaret; his son Bill McCowan (Linda Shum); grandson Brent and his wife Deanna McCowan and great-granddaughter Amelia; grandson Scott and his wife Alexis McCowan; his daughter Daryl (Ed Dumanski); granddaughter Kyla and her husband Jan Schouten; his son Colin McCowan (Nancy Ross) with children, Caleb, J.J. and Addison; his daughter Patricia McCowan (David Morrow) and granddaughters, Bronwyn and Caroline; his sisters-in-law Ina McCowan, Evelyn McCowan, Phyllis Cassie and several nieces and nephews. Our thanks to his home-care workers, Allan and Bert; long-time time doctor Dr. Roy Smith, and later Dr. Ball; as well as the nurses and staff at St. Boniface Hospital. According to Bill's wishes there will be no service, with a family gathering to be held at a later date. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should friends and family wish, donations may be made in memory of William McCowan to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, or a charity of one's choice. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com
Publish Date: Jul 2, 2016

WILLIAM KEITH MCCOWAN 1929 - 2016 On Friday, June 24, 2016, Bill passed away at St. Boniface General Hospital in the early hours. According to his wishes, there will be no service. Longer obituary to follow. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

Publish Date: Jun 28, 2016

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 02, 2016