THE REV. CANON LEONARD C. FRYER

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THE REV. CANON LEONARD C. FRYER On Sunday evening, May 9, 2004, our dear husband, father, grandfather and brother, Leonard C. Fryer, passed away at the Selkirk and District General Hospital at the age of 89 years. Len was born at Fort Alexander, MB, the third child of the Rev. Charles and Mrs. Elsie Fryer. He received his education at home, at St. Johns College School in Winnipeg and at St. Johns College, with two four-year interruptions. From 1935 to 1939 he worked as a "permit teacher" at an Anglican Mission School at Atikameg in the Peace River District in Alberta. From 1941 until the war ended in 1945 he served with the Royal Canadian Medical Corps, first in Canada, then the United Kingdom and finally in Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands. He was awarded the Oak Leaf Award for service beyond the call of duty. While waiting to return to Canada in the Netherlands he met his future wife, Johanna (Hannie) Thurkow. She came to Canada in May 1947 after Len had obtained his degree in Theology at St. Johns College and had been ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church by the Bishop of the Diocese of Keewatin. They were married in June 1947 in St. Vital and then travelled to Norway House, MB, which was Lens first parish. His ordination to the priesthood took place in Kenora, ON, in September 1948. They lived in Norway House for seven happy years during which time their three daughters were born. In 1954 Len became rector of St. James Church, Rainy River and also served in the parishes of Barwick and Emo until 1960 when he was called to Lac du Bonnet to take care of St. Johns church there along with the parishes of Pointe du Bois and Whitemouth. In 1971 the family moved to Stonewall in the Diocese of Ruperts Land and Len served there and in Stony Mountain and Balmoral until his retirement in 1980. For many years he served as Chaplain in the Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion in the places where he lived. Lens whole life was devoted to God and to people, and after his retirement he continued making daily visits, even after he lost most of his eyesight, to all the patients in the Stonewall Hospital bringing them comfort and cheer with his gentle sense of humour. He received several awards for his volunteer work, e.g. from the Provincial Government, the Stonewall and District Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Canadian Legion. He was a kind and caring person who was loved and will be missed by many. Len was predeceased by his parents, his brother Stanley and his sister Vera Fryer. He is survived by his wife Hannie; his daughters, Elsie Millerd (Frank) of Kitchener, ON, Margaret Hills (Percy) of Kelowna, BC and Joyce Dreilich of Victoria, BC; his grandchildren, Bruce, David and Paul Millerd, Shannon Hills and Sherri and Bryan Dreilich and his sister Ruth Manacki of Mississauga, ON. He will also be lovingly remembered by his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Rick Thurkow and Els and Albert Jan Thurkow of the Netherlands and by one niece and four nephews. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 13 at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, 286-2nd Street West, Stonewall. Flowers are gratefully declined. If friends so desire donations may be made to the Anglican Church of the Ascension, Box 550, Stonewall, MB ROC 2Z0, or a charity of your choice. MacKenzie Funeral Home Stonewall in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 12, 2004