STANLEY WALTER KNOWLES

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STANLEY WALTER KNOWLES Two months short of his 89th birthday, Stan passed away peacefully, on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at the Maples Personal Care Home. He is survived by his son Ray; daughter Sheila Bross (Michael) of Montreal; granddaughters, Kathryn, Kelly (Dean), Karen-Rae (Luke) of New Zealand; daughter-in-law Dorothy; grandson Andrew Bross of Montreal; and great-granddaughter Madison of New Zealand. Stan was predeceased by his wife Maude Bernice (Poppy) of 49 years of marriage; brothers, Frank and Charles; and sisters, Jenny and Jessie. Kathryn will fondly remember the stories her grandfather shared with her during her many visits with him throughout the years when he entertained her with many poignant and sometimes hilarious stories of his childhood years and growing up in old St. Andrews. When Stan left home to make his way in the world, he moved to Winnipeg and studied to be a "sign maker". Back when the store signs were hand-painted, his signs were featured in many small stores in downtown Winnipeg. To further his career, he worked long hours, as well as taking courses at night. Stan then joined the Hudson Bay Company in his mid 20s and was a dedicated employee for the next 40 years. Early in his career, he worked in the Display Department designing interior layouts. Later, he joined the staff at Hudson Bay House where he worked on store planning in Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. After his retirement in 1980, Stan continued to put his creative talents to work doing layouts for many boutiques and small stores for the next five years. Stan was an ardent golfer and a member of both the Winnipeg Canoe Club and Assiniboine Golf Club, golfing well into his late 70s. He was a talented craftsman and took pride in his carpentry and renovation work. He had an appreciation of the outdoors and always looked forward to winters end when he could get out and plant his garden. Each year, he and his wife Poppy, enjoyed a winter break in Hawaii, where he loved to swim and surf in the ocean. Stan was deeply curious about the world at large and until his death, kept a chronicle in binders (74 in all) of clippings from newspapers and magazines about politics, entertainment, religion, history and sports. He was a spiritual man who believed that religion went far and beyond one faith. On August 3, Stan being a diabetic, slipped into a coma and passed on one day later. As per his wishes, a private ceremony was held on Monday, August 9 in the Chapel of Memories in Wojciks Funeral Chapel, 2157 Portage Ave. at Sharp Boulevard with the immediate family in attendance. Ray and Sheila would like to thank the staff of the Maples Personal Care Home for their warmth and kindness in caring for their father for the past three and a half years. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made in Stans memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 102 - 310 Broadway Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S6. WOJCIKS ALL BELIEFS & FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM 897 - 4665

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 14, 2004