CHARLIE (CHUCK) SMEATON

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CHARLIE (CHUCK) SMEATON After a brief but valiant fight against cancer, Chuck passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 3, 2005. Chuck was born December 31, 1932 at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. He grew up in St. Vital, attended Windsor School and Glenlawn Collegiate. At an early age, he contracted every childhood illness that was going, and then some. At age 16, even polio did not stop him from a variety of athletic accomplishments. After spending six years in the Air Cadets, he moved on the the Militia during the Korean conflict. He tried his hand at a few jobs, before he found his true calling. He was hired in 1967 as a Child Care Counsellor, easily relating to his own childhood problems and what these boys were facing. After 15 years, he moved on to the position of Work Base Counsellor at the Winnipeg Human Resources Opportunity Center. The clientele group was quite similar. Charlie remained there for 15 years until retirement. While waiting three years for his wife to retire, to took on the most fun job of his life - he drove the shuttle bus on the Regent Casino parking lot. Charlie and Pam were members of the St. George's Anglican Church for 40 years. He was on vestry for ten years, and two years as People's Warden at the same time. He served 12 years as Group Committee Chairman for 2nd Transcona Scout Group. He is a 30 year member of the No. 7 Transcona Legion. He volunteered for seven years with the Winnipeg Humane Society taking puppies to various hospitals and seniors health groups. He also served on the Post Polio Network Executive for 11 years. His prime volunteer time has been taken up by The Foresters over the past 30 years. He served as Vice Chief, Chief, Vice High Chief, High Chief Ranger to Regional Council President for the Canadian Central Plains. He was most recently given the most prestigious award for volunteerism, the Lifetime Achievement Award. The two activities he received the most pleasure from were: going into classrooms in St. Vital schools teaching the children various topics of the history of St. Vital on behalf of the St. Vital Historical Society, and his breakfast meeting with the St. Vital Men's Club. Charlie leaves behind Pamela, his loving and devoted wife of 43 years; a son Christopher, grandsons, Michael and Nikolas, granddaughter Alaya and their mother, daughter-in-law Zoffia and his daughter Robyn Keena and son-in-law Art, and granddaughters, Carly and Sami; sister Georgina of Mississauga; nephew Dennis, his wife Sandy, children, Ryan and Ian; nephew Robert and his wife Allison; and a niece Cheryl and her daughter Cherie and her husband David. Special thanks to Seven Oaks Hospital and Saint Boniface Hospital Palliative Care Unit and staff. A memorial service will take place on Tuesday, August 9 at 12:00 noon at Saint Saviour's Anglican Church, Munroe at Grey. As per Charlie's request, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Children's Hospital Foundation, 501 - 840 Sherbrook Street R3A 1S1 or the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent Street R2L 1X3. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 06, 2005