CHARLES WILLIAM YULE

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CHARLES WILLIAM YULE May 23, 1925 - March 6, 2018 "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth..." Charles was predeceased by his parents, Charles Guthrie Yule (1952) and Hilda Victoria Montgomery (1965), and two older sisters, Dorothy Victoria (2003) and Ruth Margaretta (1999). He is survived by two daughters, Shirley Anne and Pamela Victoria, and nephews and niece (by birth order), Gary Yule, Mary Ann Gilmour (nee McCreary), Michael McCreary and Andrew McCreary. He is also survived by many members of (wife) Jeanette Stadnek's family - there are too many to list, but each one held a special place in his heart. During the Second World War, Charles enlisted in June, 1943 with the R.C.A.F., serving with R.A.F. Squadron 192, 100 Group, as a mid-upper air-gunner. He returned home to Canada in February, 1946 - eight operations short of receiving the coveted 'Ops Wing' (30 being the required number to qualify). Charles spent the majority of his work career with Abitibi Paper Company's Pine Falls paper mill (1952 to 1986 retirement). He married Jeanette Stadnek in 1955 and they remained together until her passing in 1994. In 1997, he returned to his Winnipeg roots in Elmwood / East Kildonan and lived independently until a fall in 2014 resulted in a move to long-term care at Deer Lodge Centre in early 2015, where he resided until his passing. The family extends thanks to the hard-working staff on the floor at Deer Lodge who tended to his daily needs and care. Special thanks to Charles' long-time personal companion during his Deer Lodge stay, Colleen Molter, who was a loving and much-loved 'best friend' to Charles, and joined Shirley and Pam at his bedside during the hours leading up to and at the time of his passing. Throughout his life, Charles worked to reconnect with and preserve personal accounts of Second World War Air Gunners. He was a founding member of the Ex-Air Gunners Association (1983 to 2007). For those wanting to learn more about their work and history, an electronic library of the Short Bursts newsletters is housed at the Brandon Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum: www.airmuseum.ca/mag/. Charles was also a loyal supporter of Halifax 57 Rescue, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and honouring the invaluable, but often under-rated, role of the Handley Page Halifax bomber aircraft in the Second World War. No greater memorial to Charles could be made if, in lieu of flowers or cards, anyone wishing to honour Charles' memory and service to his country would make a Hali-rescue donation (via the funeral home donation page (search 'Halifax 57 Rescue Canada') or via the internet https://fundrazr.com/417498. Charles was one of the last of his Air Gunner kind in Canada. His family extends sincere gratitude and respect to all veterans - past and present. The family is planning a service to inter Charles' ashes, to rest beside Jeanette in Pine Falls, in summer, 2018 (date to be determined). You may sign the guest book and light a memorial candle at www.cropo.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2018