RUSSELL N. DEMERY

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

RUSSELL N. DEMERY (DROHOMERESKI) It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and gigi, Russell Norman Demery, on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at the age of 81. Russ will be greatly missed by Ruth, his wife of 59 years; his children Lyle (Michelle) of Ottawa, Ontario, Cheryl Sherrer of Swan River, Manitoba, Shelley, and Michele (Gerry) Chartrand of Winnipeg. Also missing their beloved Gigi are grandchildren Brendan, Nicholas, Tyler, Justin, Liam and Audrey. Russ also leaves behind his brother Wilmer, and his sister Margaret (Merv) Anderson of Los Angeles, California, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and special family friend Robin (Jason) Rankin, Elainna and Caitlyn. Russ was predeceased by his father, Nick, in 1962 and his mother, Nellie, in 1992. Russ was born on September 4, 1932 in Pleasant Home, Manitoba. He was raised on a farm near Komarno and attended Plumridge School. Russ often told stories about the barn dances he attended at Crabby Steve's and how he and his friends would never have pushed those Model A's into the woods to rot if they knew how much they would be worth today. Russ moved to Winnipeg in 1950 and found employment at Nutty Club. He soon moved on to Hudson Paper and worked for the next 40 years through the company's many transformations before retiring from Unisource (Crown Zellerbach) in 1993. Russ met Ruth, the love of his life, in spring 1954 and they married on December 29 that same year. After a few years they started a family and, while the children were young, Russ and Ruth would gather with friends' families at each other's houses to visit and play music. Russ was a self-taught musician and enjoyed playing the fiddle, guitar and tsymbaly. In the 1970s Russ and Ruth indulged their love of travel and summers were spent on family car trips, seeing as much of western Canada as they could. After retirement, Russ and Ruth continued to travel extensively, going coast to coast in Canada and travelling the eastern and western coasts of the United States. Shortly before retirement, Russ took up golf and spent many days on the links. Fishing was a lifelong passion and he also enjoyed bowling. In the last years of his life Russ was involved in the Main Street Seniors Centre and served on its executive, and was also on the Board of Directors of Bleak House. Though travel and other pursuits became more difficult due to declining health, he delighted in seeing his grandchildren grow and in sharing stories from his life with his family. Funeral services will be held at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, Winnipeg on Thursday, June 19. Viewing will be from 9:30 a.m. and a formal service will be held at 10:00 a.m. The family kindly declines flowers and asks instead that donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba. MACKENIZE FUNERAL HOME STONEWALL 204-467-2525 mackhome@mts.net

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 18, 2014