WILLIAM ROSS (CURLY) MCCLELLAND

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WILLIAM ROSS (CURLY) MCCLELLAND March 10, 1922 - February 21, 2019 Ross was found unresponsive at his home in the Rosewood Retirement Residence, and pronounced dead at St. Boniface Hospital shortly thereafter. He was predeceased by his brothers, Ken and Barry, sons, Wayne (2015) and Dale (1955), and by the love of his life, wife Hattie (2014). He is survived by one son, Douglas McClelland of Vancouver, and two brothers, Don and David in British Columbia; plus John Lopushniuk and his wife Thelma who have been like family to Ross for many years. Our gratitude to the wonderful staff of the Waverley-Rosewood Retirement community, for the absolutely outstanding care they provided during the last year of his life. Ross was born in the home of his Boyd grandparents, in Miami, Manitoba, in 1922. He was educated at Isaac Brock School in Winnipeg, and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate. At that age he was active in the Tuxis boys club of Chalmers United Church, and in skiing with the Puffin club. His early work life began with Maybuilt Radiators and the Cockshutt Plow Company. In 1942 he enlisted in the Armed Forces and served in the Light Infantry, being stationed in Three Rivers, Quebec initially, and then moving to the Royal Canadian Pay Corps in Brockville and Ottawa. Upon his honourable discharge in 1947 he returned to Winnipeg and took up work with Motor Coach Industries. June 1, 1953 Ross changed careers to begin his long relationship with London Life Insurance Company which continued to June 1, 1985. Ross had a long and successful career with the London Life Insurance Company, where he combined business with pleasure in building up a huge circle of clients who became friends, and friends who became clients. He retired June 1, 1985 from London Life, and enjoyed a very active and full retirement for almost 34 years. In 1948, at a social event for Crescent Creamery staff, Ross met a young lady named Hattie Hammond. After an evening dancing, he asked if they could meet at the next dance, and she agreed. When she arrived at the following dance he was waiting by the door for her, and the rest is history. They struck up a dancing partnership for life. Hattie and Ross were married on October 8, 1949 at Chalmers United Church, in Winnipeg. They had three sons, Douglas Earl born May 18, 1954, William Dale born July 8, 1955 and Wayne Robert born March 22, 1958. William Dale passed away shortly after birth. Hattie and Ross bought their first house in St. Vital in 1953, and then in November 1957 moved to a brand new home in Windsor Park on De Bourmont Bay. Ross continued to live in that home until June of 2018, when he moved to The Waverley retirement home. Ross was active in the community in many ways, for a variety of organizations, but the primary outlet for his charitable endeavours was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, whose central commandment to "visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan.", he took to heart. Over the course of many years of service he had the honour of serving in almost every role possible in the Local Chapter. He was also active in the Royal Canadian Legion. For many years Ross enjoyed curling, and was active with a variety of curling club roles. He belonged to fly fishing and fish and game organizations, and developed a hobby of tying his own fly casting flies, and building his own fly rods; eventually he graduated to sharing these skills by teaching many friends. He recently was reminiscing about how satisfied he was with the wonderful life he had led. He enjoyed a long and healthy lifetime, so many great friends, professional success, travel, community involvement, and a more than 65 year love affair with his wife Hattie. We should all aspire to live so well. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 26 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg. MB. REST IN PEACE

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 23, 2019