AL (ALLAN) WILNER

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AL (ALLAN) WILNER January 15, 1930 - June 27, 2017 On June 27, 2017, our husband, father, great-grandfather, Al passed away, peacefully, at Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg, surrounded by family, after a valiant battle with health challenges over many years. Born in Winnipeg, Al grew up the very much youngest of three boys in Govan, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, later returning to Winnipeg as a young man. In "business" from an early age, Al announced the movies up and down the main street of Govan, receiving free admission as payment. His career in the food industry started as a kid, helping his folks with their family grocery stores in Govan and then Saskatoon. He also worked later in a private grocery business in Saskatoon and then in Winnipeg as a produce manager with the Federated Co-Operatives. A natural born salesman, he was an insurance agent in Winnipeg with Investors Group. As "Al Wilner Agencies", he was a successful giftware salesman, representing numerous companies and looking out for his Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario customers' best interests for more than 20 years. He made many famous acquaintances in his life including, Gordie Howe, Eddie Feigner, and the legendary Debbie Reynolds. Al was a legend in his own right - athletic in his youth and as a young man, he pitched for his co-op softball team, perfecting a windmill pitch that few batters could handle, played a softball game against his idol, Eddie Feigner, and was offered the chance to try out for a baseball farm team, which he did not pursue. He was also an excellent 5 pin bowler. Al and Sara shared the same birthday - January 15! Over their 45 years of marriage, they shared a love of band music, and enjoyed dancing cheek to cheek. Al was constantly amazed whenever daughter, Robin pulled up his favourite old time performers from the Internet on her phone for his viewing. In his latter years, Al's creative side flourished, thanks to the many Recreation Services activities and excellent staff at Misericordia Interim Care and Misericordia Place. He enjoyed the Men's Breakfasts, and Barbeques. Al really enjoyed the exercise and dance classes, and almost always attended Pub Night. He loved singing, and formed an inhouse trio with fellow Interim residents, Frank and John and he always participated in the Annual Misericordia Choir Concerts even singing solos. He looked forward to the many performances by various singers and musicians who kindly gave of their time to come to Misericordia, and Al never hesitated to offer his suggestions to enhance their repertoire. He very much looked forward to bi-weekly art classes, and was prolific with his output of artwork - these he gave as gifts for staff and family, and his art filled his room at Misericordia Place. He proudly completed a number of art commissions, and in July, 2015, he hosted his own art show at Misericordia Place, selling 44 pictures, the proceeds of which were donated back to Misericordia Recreation Services. He enjoyed playing cribbage with family, doing crossword puzzles, and working on word search puzzles with staff. And a day wouldn't go by without Al announcing to anyone who was near at the time, "Do I have a joke for you!" as he loved telling jokes from the numerous joke books that filled his room. There are so many people to thank for their support of Al - at Seven Oaks Hospital, thanks to Dr. B. Abbott, nursing, aides, pharmacy, housekeeping, dietary, and physicians, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and social work. At Victoria Hospital, Al's "second home" the last two years, thanks to all the nurses, clinical nurse specialists, physicians especially Dr. A. Sharma, residents, medical and nursing students, pharmacy, dietary, diagnostic and housekeeping staff of Emergency and 4th Floor Medicine. At Misericordia Interim and Misericordia Place - thanks to Rosie Jacuzzi, Nurse Managers Tara, Gail, and Victoria, and to all nursing, aides, Spiritual Care, housekeeping, dietary, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, physicians and social work. Very special thanks to Dr. John Reda, and to all the Recreation Services Staff and Volunteers, and their Director, Ellen Locke - Al and we could not have managed without you! Al was predeceased by his parents, Fruma and Walter, his brothers, Sam and Jack, a baby son Richard John, and his former wife, Patricia. Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Sara, daughters, Sherry, Karen (Richard), Robin, and Tracey (Chris), sons, Randy and Don (Nora), grandkids, Jonathan, Hannah and Samantha, also granddaughters, Jessica (Drew), Alana (Ken), Rebecca (Travis) and their mother Judy, and a great-granddaughter, Alice Anne, as well as numerous nephews and nieces. In recognition of the outstanding, nurturing support provided by Misericordia Health Centre Recreation Services, please consider a donation in Al's name to their program. "And Now, You Know The Score."

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 13, 2018