WILLIAM BURTON ACHESON

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WILLIAM BURTON ACHESON On August 6, 2002, Bill Acheson passed away quietly, with his family beside him. He will be remembered with love by his wife Alma; son Bill; parents, Judy and Bill Acheson of BC; mother-in-law Ann Uhryn; sister Peggy; sister Sue of Vancouver; niece Ellen and nephew David Johannesen; niece Anita and husband David Brandt and children, Kayla, Nicholas, and Grace of Red Deer. Born in Sudbury, he moved to Winnipeg with his family in 1955. There, as a Boy Scout, he was honoured by being invited to attend an International Jamboree. He was a successful Junior Achiever and active in many sports. After graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1970, he joined the North American Life. He completed his Chartered Life Underwriters studies with the highest marks and won the Dunstall Trophy for Canada in 1976. He was Convention Chairman, Past President and Senator of Winnipeg Junior Chamber, a member of the Winnipeg Estate Planning Council, and Director of the Winnipeg Chartered Life Underwriters Association. He had been a member of the Masons, "The Assiniboine" Lodge No. 114 and the Scottish Rite. He was a founding member of the Manitoba Video Software Dealers Association and the first Canadian elected to the American board. He met Alma Uhryn at the Canoe Club in 1971, and they married the following year. Bill and Alma loved the outdoors and spent many happy years at their summer place in the Lac du Bonnet area. They became fishing enthusiasts and Bill, and son Bill, won several Master Anglers Awards. In his late 20s he was struck down with Hodgkins Disease and subsequently changed vocations. He became involved in the development of the casino industry in Manitoba. In 1984 he opened Bills Video. In 1992 he was voted Canadian Video Retailer of the Year. In more recent years he was employed in sales by Home Depot. When his illness became debilitating he became an avid bridge player and part-time fisherman. The family wishes to thank the staff at CancerCare Manitoba, including Dr. Navaratnam, nurse Jayne, the treatment room nurses, the staff at HSC Emergency and H6 for the care last spring and the last hours of his life. A special thanks to the Hom IV staff and home oxygen program. There are a multitude of co-workers and friends who also deserve mention and a thank you. A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 12 at Thomson Funeral Chapels, 669 Broadway, at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Clark Saunders officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 9Z9; Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3A 1S1; or to Rescue Siamese, in care of Petvalu, 200 Meadowood Dr., Winnipeg, MB R2M 5L7. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 10, 2002