WILLIAM JAMES (BILL) BATER

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WILLIAM JAMES (BILL) BATER April 24, 1935 - June 15, 2012 Surrounded by the love of family and friends, and the generous compassion and care of the 5th floor nurses of Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, William (Bill) Bater peacefully surrendered his earthly life Friday, June 15, 2012. Bill is predeceased by his wife, Jo-Anne Bater (nee May) whom he married in June of 1957. The youngest of two children born to Christopher William and Elsie Bater (both deceased), Bill leaves his three sons: Sam, Sid (Ted), and Andrew (Nicole); grandchildren: Nicolas, Lee, Tia, Jada, Mehka and Storm, sister-in-law, Major Diane May, Nichole Bye, brother-in-law, Stephen May, nephews and nieces, relatives and friends to mourn his passing. Bill is probably best known for his love of animals and wild-life, his connection with nature through canoeing and camping, and his avid interest though not expertise in golf! In recent years, Bill spent much of his leisure time alternating between refinishing his 50+ year old canoe, locating local golf courses he had yet to conquer, and visiting the archery range where he was well-known to use the bottom of his Styrofoam coffee cup for target practice. Though he worked in sales much of his life, Bill's first love was always aviation. As a young man, he worked as a bush pilot flying supplies to remote Northern communities and flying cargo out, an experience that provided him with many stories he passed on to his children. A memorial service for and celebration of the life of Bill Bater will be held at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Ave.(across from Brookside Cemetery), on Tuesday, June 26 at 1:00 p.m. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 23, 2012