WILLIAM ROBERT LESLIE GARDINER

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WILLIAM ROBERT LESLIE GARDINER With great love and sorrow, the family of Bill Gardiner announces his sudden passing on November 7, 2004 in Mission, TX. Bill was born in Sperling, MB on April 11, 1914. The family moved to Winnipeg where Bill worked in the Eatons paint shop. During the depression the family moved to Lakeland to farm. Bill met his wife Esther and they were married on August 12, 1941. Bill served in the Air Force during the Second World War. After the war Bill and Esther purchased the General Store in Lakeland and continued to be a part of the community until the store was sold in 1966. He worked as a carpenter for Co-Op Construction travelling extensively in western Canada, finally settling in Red Deer, AB. He joined Tim Con Construction as a foreman and continued working for the company until his retirement. In 1987 Bill and Esther moved back to Winnipeg to be closer to their daughter Joan and family. Every winter they joined the Snow Birds in Fiesta Village, Mission. Bill had the ability to make many friends wherever he went. He loved life and lived it fully and was always willing to give a helping hand. Some of Bills greatest enjoyments were the outdoors, camping, fishing and teaching his grandsons Kevin and David to appreciate mother nature. He also loved to dance and continued with his friend Irene to go every week to Riverside. He greatly enjoyed volunteering at CNIB summer programs. In his later years he became a grower of champion tomatoes and loved to share them with friends. Bill was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 90 in Fort Garry, he was also Grand Master with the Masons during the 1950s in Gladstone. Bill leaves to mourn, his daughter Joan (Vic) Weselak; grandsons, Kevin (Amanda) and David (Leslie) great-grandsons, Caeden and Talon; brothers, Roy (Pat), Ken; and numerous nieces, nephews other family members and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Esther in 1993; brothers, Em, Curly; and sister Beatrice. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Friday, November 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Thomson "In the Park", Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. Interment will follow in Thompson "In the Park", Cemetery. Should friends so wish, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY 1291 McGillivray - 925-1120

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 17, 2004