WALTER F. LATTER

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WALTER F. LATTER 1916 - 2002 It is with sadness that we announce the death of Walter F. Latter on Thursday, May 2, 2002 at Grace General Hospital. Walter William Frederick Richard Latter was born on November 26, 1916 in Winnipeg, MB. He was the son of William and Sally Latter. His siblings were Charlie, Marjorie and Edna Kay. He was raised on the family farm and as a young man helped his father until moving to Winnipeg in 1953. Walter married Helene in 1949. She had come to Canada from Germany as a widow with her young son Victor. Walter and Helene settled in the north end of Winnipeg where they had a small grocery store and he then worked for various companies including Scott Bathgate. The family moved to St. James and in the late 50s, he began working for the Agriculture Department at the University of Manitoba. Church was a very important part of Walters life from the time of his childhood. He was an involved member of St. James United; serving on committees, teaching Sunday School and acting as Sunday School Superintendent. Walters service to the church continued when he and Helene moved to Morden, MB. He was very involved in similar ways at St. Pauls United and even took services during the summer and at the Tabor Home in Morden. Walter was always very community minded and this was exemplified by his involvement in the Scouting movement. He was a leader of the Cub Pack for over 15 years. Many young children were influenced by Walters leadership and his enthusiasm to be a part of their lives. Walter was also instrumental in the establishment of the Morden and District Museum, working as a member of the Board and also delighting in sharing his knowledge of the history of the area with tourists who visited the museum. His tours were always detailed and very informative. Walter worked for the Research Station in Morden for over 15 years making many friends during these years. In 1989, he was elected as Mayor of Morden, a job which he took very seriously and thoroughly enjoyed. Politics and history were topics he always enjoyed discussing and sharing his opinions on these events. Walters first wife died in 1986 and in 1990, he married Julia Fournier in Morden. Her daughter Joycelyn and husband Bryan and their children, Craig and Marielle became his family during the last 13 years of his life. He was a wonderful grandfather to both children playing catch, board games, and cribbage with them. He loved jigsaw puzzles and a good game of cribbage and was a master at crosswords and Scrabble. Walter is survived by his wife Julia; daughter Joycelyn and her husband Bryan; as well as their children, Craig and Marielle. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Bertha Latter and Luisa Daniels; brothers-in-law, Tryggvi and Fran Einarson, Lorry Einarson, Eythor Isfeld. As well, he has many nephews and nieces, in particular, his brother Charlie and Berthas children: Bess and Cyril, Dorothy and Ray, Walter and Carol, Bill and Jan and sister Marjorie and Nelsons children: Isabel and Larry, Earl and Doreen, and Roy and JoAnn. Others who were an important part of his extended family were Ellie and Mel Bolski, Jack and Doris Latter, Ron and Elaine Latter as well as Margaret and Don Brown. Walter was predeceased by his first wife Helene in 1986; his son Victor in 1963; his brother Charlie in 1981; his sister Marjorie in 1985; and his sister Kay in 1995. A funeral service will be held in thanksgiving of his life on Wednesday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Pauls United Church in Morden, MB. A viewing will be held in Morden at Wiebe Funeral Chapel, Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. An ash interment will follow at a later date in Winnipeg. Wiebes Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements. The family wishes to thank the staff at Grace Hospital for his care during the past 4 weeks. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the United Church Mission and Service Fund or the Morden Museum.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 08, 2002