STANLEY (STAN) MATTHEW SANSOM

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STANLEY (STAN) MATTHEW SANSOM Peacefully at Rock Lake Hospital in Crystal City, Stan Sansom aged 89 years of Crystal City, MB. MB., on June 1, 2003, Our father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, was born June 26, 1913 in a farmhouse on Section 14-1-12 northeast in the Municipality of Louise. He was the third of six children born to Tom and Lillian Sansom (nee Saunders). His sister Hilda predeceased him in childhood and George and Louise in infancy; his mother in 1937; his father in 1967; his beloved wife Violet in 1978; and his brother Rueben in 1999. He is survived by one sister, two children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His sister Ada has been a constant companion and helpmate throughout his entire life and lives in Crystal City; his daughter Sandra and husband Walter Neustaedter and their three sons, Eric, Jason and Chris, and Chris wife, Kara and their children, Luke and Violet all reside in Winnipeg; his son Gordon, and his children, Kevin, Dallas and Andrea. Gordon and his sons continue to farm the family farm where Dad was born and which his father homesteaded. Dad married Violet Leonard on November 14, 1944 and she joined him on the family farm. She and Aunt Ada formed a bond and a strong friendship as they worked side by side on the farm. Both Sandra and Gordon were born and raised on the farm. Dad has been a farmer all his life having learned from his father as they worked together. He has passed the craft onto his son Gordon, and Dad was pleased to see his grandsons now farming alongside their father. He was happy to have lived to see a fourth generation take over the family farm. He was proud to be a cattleman. He diversified his farm by building the needed buildings and corrals to raise 250 beef cattle each year from 1967 to 1984. Each fall, he looked forward to the buying trip out west with his good friend and cattle buyer Jack McKennitt. On this excursion, theyd buy Dads herd for the winter and network with other buyers and cattlemen. He was active in the community and served on many boards and committees. He was a founding member, past president and board member of the Louise Consumers Co-op; a founding member, past president and board member of the South Central Auction Mart; and served on the Board of the United Grain Growers. He gave back to the community in various ways by providing labour, equipment and financial help as needed. He and his sister, Ada along with their cousin, Archie who had worked for Dad on the farm for most of his life, moved into a new home in Crystal City in the spring of 1984. In retirement, Dads favourite activities were playing pool at the Seniors Friendship Center, meeting his friends for coffee and visits, and driving down to the farm to keep up with the activity. Hed often sit in his half-ton on the edge of a field watching the boys seed or harvest. This past week he drove to meet friends for coffee just one day before being admitted to hospital with worsening congestive heart failure. He slipped into unconsciousness soon after and passed away peacefully on June 1 with his family at his side. Viewing will be held at Grahams Funeral Chapel in Pilot Mound on Saturday morning, June 7 from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June7 at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Alvin Jacobs and Rev. Irene Onuch officiating. Interment to follow in Crystal City Cemetery. Friends, if they desire, may donate in his memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Lung Association. Grahams Funeral Service of Pilot Mound in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 06, 2003