Wallace McCONNELL

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McCONNELL: Wallace Laverne (Verne). On Sunday, June 27, 2010, at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Verne peacefully entered into final rest following a massive heart attack, having survived several serious health issues in recent years. He was born on March 28, 1925 at the family farm near Hamiota, Manitoba, the eldest of the eight children of Roy and Minnie(Wallace) McConnell. Growing up there he developed a love of the land and an appreciation for the hard work involved in a diversified farming operation. Verne's early education was at the Lavinia School where he also found enjoyment in hockey and softball. High school was completed at Hamiota in 1942 while living with his McConnell grandparents who had retired there. That fall he took time to help at home with the harvest and also to gain the few more months in age required to enlist in the R.C.A.F. as the other five boys in his class had done. Following training as a bomb-aimer he spent his 19th birthday on the Atlantic headed for England, then further training and formation of a crew as members of the R.A.F. 77 Squadron. This crew became a closely-bonded group maintaining their friendship in later years. Back in Canada after the war and return to civilian life, Verne set his sights on farming and began the process of acquiring land and machinery along with wedding plans. On June 22, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Kelly of Hamiota. After ten years of farm life, during which two sons were born, Verne developed an interest in retail business and entered the employ of Monarch Lumber, later known as Revelstoke Building Materials. Starting in Hamiota and subsequent moves to Roland, where a daughter rounded out the family, then Birtle and Reston, he spent the final twenty years of his active working time in Thompson. Throughout these years his continued interest in sports gave him opportunity to coach several young teams of hockey and softball players; something that gave him great pleasure and satisfaction. Membership in the Royal Canadian Legion began in Hamiota and continued on to Thompson where he remained a member of the Burntwood River Branch #244 to the end of his life. Of major importance to Verne was his involvement with the Masonic Lodge. In Brandon, he was a member and Past Master of Tweed #113 which later amalgamated with Brandon Lodge #19. Nothing short of severe illness was allowed to keep him from these meeting nights and he tackled his responsibilities in all seriousness up to the week of his death. Always a builder, Verne tackled many projects large and small. His greatest pride and accomplishment was the cottage at Setting Lake, near Thompson, built for year-round use and enjoyed by family and friends on many occasions. He was a family man; always interested in the activities of hischildren and grandchildren, he had no qualms about helping in the kitchen when necessary. Following retirement in 1987, Verne and Jean moved to Brandon and soon were involved in community activities. They had time then to enjoy many travelling adventures; trailer trips for camping, or taking off in the car to explore Canada from coast to coast and many parts of the U.S. Other trips took them to Alaska, Britain, Portugal and Costa Rica. Of these travels the most meaningful to both Verne and Jean was to England in1989, where they attended a reunion of R.A.F. 77 Squadron in York. There they met up with former crew members, visited favorite wartime haunts, enjoyed visiting and reminiscing. Left to mourn the passing of this beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend are: his wife and soul-mate, Jean, son Dave (Wendy) of Gimli, son Chris (Glenda) of Souris, daughter Marla (Barry) Perkins of San Francisco, grandchildren Scott, Kerryand Rinautta McConnell, Christina and Tommy Perkins. Also left are two brothers, Elgin (Ruth) and Kent (Maureen), sisters Mavis Bray, Eula Woods, Mick (Lloyd) Little, sisters-in-law Maureen McConnell and Marie McConnell, many nieces and nephews. Verne was predeceased by his parents Roy and Minnie, brothers Jim and Morley, brothers- in-law Ron Bray and Nelson Woods. The memorial service honoring Verne's life was held on July 2, 2010, at Memories Chapel in Brandon with funeral celebrant Mr. Lawrence McInnes officiating and Glenda McConnell presiding at the organ. Urn-bearer was Scott McConnell. Interment followed the service at the columbarium in Brandon Cemetery. From one of Verne's favorite poems: "And the night shall be filled with music,And the Cares, that infest the day,Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,And as silently steal away" - Longfellow.Memorial donations may be made to: Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, #3, 824 - 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 5B7.Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 10, 2010