DAVID EMMETT LORNE RANSON

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DAVID EMMETT LORNE RANSON February 5, 1923 - July 14, 2005 At Grace Hospital, surrounded by his family, 82 years old, David Ranson's heart finally stopped. The love that Dave held for his family and friends, and we to him, will never stop. Dave is survived by his wife Hilda Ranson (Bjornsen); sons, Randy Ranson and daughter Vanessa, Glen Ranson and son Nicholas and daughter Andrea of British Columbia, Del Ranson and sons, Kyle and Jared of Mississauga and son Steven Ranson. Dave will be missed by an extended family consisting of his brother Lorne Ranson and his family, sister-in-law Isabel Ranson and her family, with a great number of nieces and nephews that thought of Dave as a surrogate father. Dave Ranson was the type of uncle that you phoned on Father's Day. David was born on Agnes Street in Winnipeg. At a very young age he displayed an aptitude for art. As a pre-teen his artwork was featured in the Winnipeg Free Press and he was well on his way to a distinguished career in art until someone threw bullets into a campfire he was watching, blinding him in one eye. In the subsequent operation and examination it was discovered not only was he blind in one eye, he was colour blind in the other. It is a proof of David's character that as soon as he was healthy he re-taught himself how to draw using his one remaining eye and labels on his paint for the correct colours. He taught himself so well his work was displayed by the Free Press political page all through the Second World War. There is a drawing on display at the MTS Centre Arena office building of a Nazi surrendering at VE Day, David Ranson drew that picture. During the Second World War, David was hired as the company artist at MacDonald Aircraft where his work consisted of drawing the various aircraft parts and where they all connected. He made a comic book of it. By following David's comics , the women workers that flooded the factory could instantly and correctly assemble an aircraft part, the first time. One of the prettiest workers at MacDonald Aircraft was Hilda Bjornson, not only did they assemble aircraft parts, Dave and Hilda married and assembled a family. Life threw David another curve when his right arm was smashed in a car accident, leaving his elbow with limited motion. Once again he took up the challenge to re-teach himself how to paint. Even though he had pins in the elbow of his drawing arm, he enjoyed a long and successful career as a commerical artist. David worked and owned commercial art studios in Winnipeg, Montreal and Toronto. Dave and Hilda retired to Winnipeg where he started a second career as a freelance artist and painter. When you see paintings of vintage aircraft in the Loch Galleries, the Aviation Museum, the Manitoba Heritage Fund and at CFB Winnipeg, take a close look, more than likely, Dave Ranson painted those pictures. It is a testament to Dave's character that during his last years he was afflicted with Famie Tremors and could not hold a cup of coffee, yet he was still able to produce beautiful oil paintings. When asked how he was able to piant when ordinary men would have given up, he just shrugged and said, I get my shakes to fly in formation. . Dave was witty, funny, intelligent, artistic, a loving father, grandfather, brother, friend. God must have needed an expert in Heaven to tint His clouds and sky all the colours of the rainbow. He couldn't have picked a better artist and man, than Dave Ranson. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 20, 2005