RALPH WADGE

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RALPH WADGE Peacefully on November 1, 2002 at the Boyne Lodge in Carman, MB. Dad passed away at the age of 90 years. Ralph was born May 21, 1912 near Raglan, ON. At the age of 9, his family moved west to Myrtle, MB where Ralph grew up on the family farm and attended Myrtle School. Following his education Ralph remained on the farm with his family and endured what his generation referred to as "The Dirty Thirties". During his teenage years Ralph and his brother Wilfred had a keen interest in hunting and trapping and perhaps it was this interest that led Ralph during the 30s to become one of the early mink ranchers in the province. In 1939 the family left the farm and Ralph moved the mink ranch to Charleswood (at the present location of Charleswood Centre). In 1942 Ralph pelted off his mink and joined the war effort by enlisting with the R.C.A.F. Following training as an AirFrame Mechanic, he was stationed at MacDonald Air Force base near Portage la Prairie. Near the end of the war in 1944, he married Marjorie Fitz-Henry. After his release from the Air Force, Ralph and Marjorie resided in Winnipeg where Ralph was employed as a Street Car Operator with the Winnipeg Electric Street Railway until spring of 1947 when they purchased a farm and moved to Carman. Here Ralph took up a life of farming and they raised their three children, Don, Merilynn, and Karen. Upon retirement in 1975, they sold the farm and moved to Winnipeg, returning to Carman one year later to purchase the house of Marjories dreams where they enjoyed many happy years. In the community Ralph was a member of the Manitoba Pool Elevator board and the Carman United Church board. He was an avid curler and golfer enjoying many golfing trips around southern and central Manitoba with his golfing friends from Carman. Ralph and Marjorie enjoyed their retirement years spending time with family and travelling through Canada, the United States and memorable trips to Alaska and Hawaii. Following Marjories death in 1998 and some health problems Ralph moved to the Boyne Lodge in 1999. Ralph was predeceased by his wife Marjorie; his parents, John and Ettie Wadge; brothers, Thomas, Wilfred and Edgar; sister Grace; and granddaughter Miranda Friesen. Mourning his passing are son Don (Sandra) daughters, Merilynn (Bill) and Karen (Larry) grand-children, Noreen (Lawrence) Shirtliff, Bradley Wadge, Clayton (Ailene) Wadge, Leanne, Ryan and David Cox, Brad and Tyler Friesen; great-grandchildren Dean and Devin Shirtliff, Casey and Mackenzie Ryan. Special thank-you to Dr. Dreyer, Dr. Barnes and staff of Carman Memorial Hospital and to Dianne Gillingham and staff of the Boyne Lodge for the excellent and compassionate care given to Dad during the last days of his life. A thank-you also to the many friends and acquaintances who stopped by his room over the last three years just to say, "Hello, Ralph!" Funeral service was held from Doyles Funeral Chapel in Carman, MB on Friday, November 8 at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Harold Kenyon officiating. Interment will take place in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. Honorary pallbearers were Ralphs grandchildren, Noreen, Bradley, Clayton, Leanne, David, Brad and Tyler. If friends so desire memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 301-352 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2H8, or to the Childrens Hospital of Winnipeg Research Foundation, 108-671 William Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0Z2. Doyle Funeral Chapel of Carman in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 09, 2002