SAMUEL HARTZELL STINSON A

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SAMUEL HARTZELL STINSON A fun-loving, gentle man, "Moose" Stinson passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2001 at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances, ON. He was born in Colgate, SK on May 20, 1914 to auctioneer Samuel Harvey and Elizabeth (nee Pepper) Stinson. The family moved to Regina, SK in 1923. While attending public school and then Central Collegiate, he achieved many athletic honours in track and field. At the age of 18, he played football for the Regina Roughriders, advancing to the Grey Cup final in 1932. He also was a member of the Regina Pats Hockey Club from 1930-34 and in 1937, he left Regina to play for the New York Rovers - a farm team of the New York Rangers. He later coached the Regina Pats, and was president of the Regina Fastball Association. His love for "the game" continued throughout his lifetime. In 1939, he married Olive Demchuk and together with daughter Janice, lived in Regina, Vancouver, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, and Winnipeg, where he was employed with Burns and Co., then later Westfair Foods. In their 61 years together, Olive and Hart were fortunate to travel extensively with dear friends and family. He was predeceased by his wife Olive; and brothers, Russell and Gordon. Sam is survived by his daughter Janice Gustafson; son-in-law Dick; treasured grandsons, Jon and Joel; sisters-in-law, Ada, Tilly, and Mary; brother-in-law Roger; loving nieces and nephews; and the families that knew him as Grampa "Moose". Thank you to his Winnipeg guardian angels, his Fort Frances caregivers, and to friends and family who "kept in touch". Cremation has taken place, and there will be no formal service. If so desired, in memoriam donations may be made to "Ice for Kids", care of 828 Sixth St. E., Fort Frances, ON P9A 1W9, or to a charity of your choice. "We learned more from Gramps than we ever did in school - not facts but truths, not theory but wisdom, not just to think but how to live. You have been a shining example of a life well-lived, and we are forever grateful."

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 03, 2002