Grant COLLINS

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COLLINS: Grant Wesley Collins passed away peacefully at Killarney Hospital, Thursday, January 5, 2011, aged 98 years and 9 days, beloved husband of Mary Collins (Highfield). He was born in Pilot Mound, MB on December 27, 1913, the eldest of seven sons born to Elizabeth Jane (Kemp) and William John Collins. Predeceased by his father (76), mother (61), brothers Arnold (07), Dwight (07), Lloyd (Red) (42), Elwin (02) and Raymond (Bluff) (07). He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Mary, born in 1910, Foxwarren, MB, residing at Bayside Personnel Care Home, Killarney, MB. R0K 1G0, Carolanne, Pilot Mound, MB., Dale (Lee), Birch Bay, WA., Gary (Sherry), Lake of the Woods, ON, and Connie, Innisfail, AB., 13 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, his great friend and youngest brother Earl (Ez), also cousins George (Yvonne) and Ken Kemp, Margaret Cram, all of Pilot Mound, and Mary Crane, Manitou, MB. Grant had a very busy childhood being the eldest of seven brothers, and spent his younger years in school, painting houses and barns (he was the official roof-boy), and helping with the family farming and harvesting with his father and at the Kemp farm, where he had many wonderful memories working with his Uncle Clyde and all his cousins. While playing saxophone with the local orchestra “The Kings Men”, Grant met the love of his life, rural school teacher, Mary, and they were married in 1938. They settled in Pilot Mound, raised four children while Grant ran the local butcher shop, and later, Collins Transfer. Grant and Mary were very involved in the community, and especially the many musical events, Grant singing with the Male Voice Choir, and the quartet with Gordie Cohoe, Allan McKitrick and Roy Grassick. He also had a huge garden, and grew many beautiful flowers. Grant was a very avid hunter, loved fishing, golfing, curling and cribbage with all his friends, which resulted in many stories of their adventures. Grant won many awards with his flowers, and was one of the founders and the first President of the Pilot Mound Town and Country Golf Club in 1963. His greatest curling accomplishments were playing third on the curling team that represented Manitoba in the Canadian Seniors Championship in Hamilton, ON. in 1969. At age 56, he was the youngest player to participate at Hamilton. He and his Pilot Mound rink also won two events at the Annual British Councils in Winnipeg, MB. In 1950 the rink of Grant, Walter Maxwell, Barney Black and Bob Watson won the Ganone trophy and in 1956, with Bill Sharpe, Ken McCannell and Dwight Collins won the Black & Armstrong trophy. If you ever were able to beat him in a game of crib, it was quite an accomplishment. Grant was a 65 year, life-time member of the Masonic Lodge. In 1966, they moved to Winnipeg where Grant was a butcher for Tom Boy for three years, later being transferred to Boissevain and then Killarney, where he later retired. Grant and Mary loved to travel and explored Thailand, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Hawaii and other parts of the United States and Canada. As both their sons lived at the coast, they moved to Abbotsford in 1984 for seven years, but the prairies and their many friends beckoned them home and in 1991 they returned to live in Killarney, MB. In 2005, they moved to River Heights Terrace in Brandon for three years, and then, because of health concerns, moved to Westview Lodge in Boissevain. They had very recently moved to Bayside Personnel Care Home in Killarney, MB. Grant was a wonderful family man, and took great interest in his children, 13 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. He was also very proud of Mary’s accomplishments in her music career. Grant also had many adventures with his city nephews, nieces and grandchildren, introducing them to the wild side of fishing and hunting. We all have so many wonderful memories of Dad/Grampa, a wonderful, remarkable kind man. He will be missed by us all. The family would like to thank the Doctors, nurses and support staff at Deloraine, Boissevain and Killarney hospitals for their genuine concerns and compassionate care given to Dad. Thanks also to Graham’s Funeral Service for their professional and caring attention given to all the arrangements. A memorial service will be announced and held in Pilot Mound at a later date. Flowers are gratefully declined, if friends so desire, a donation may be made to the Pilot Mound United Church. Messages of condolences may be made online at www.wheatlandfs.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Jan 11, 2012