NEIL STUART WITHER

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NEIL STUART WITHER On Saturday, July19, 2014 at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home, Neil Stuart Wither, beloved husband of Verda Wither, passed away at the age of 79 years. Memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com
Publish Date: Aug 12, 2014

NEIL STUART WITHER January 31, 1935 - July 19, 2014 Surrounded by his family, Neil passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014. Neil lived a life that many would have envied. Neil was often heard saying he had never been out of his back yard as a boy, knowing that Polo Park Golf course was in fact his backyard you might expect his life to have been a full one, and it certainly was. Married to his high school sweetheart, successful in his business career, Neil leaves to celebrate his life, wife of 57 years, Verda (nee Westman). His children, Linda (Larry Argue) and their children Daniel and Lindsay Lou. Andrew (Michelle) and their children Ashley, (Garrett), Brad and Travis. Catherine (Tom Kinsman) and their children William and Stephanie. Cameron (Lynnette) and their children Jessica, Macy Lynn and Karina. Two sisters Joyce Forth and Jeanne (Bob Carlson). Neil was predeceased by his father Andrew and mother Gladys, as well as brother-in-law Ab Forth. Neil began his a construction career following his schooling at Isaac Brock and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate. He began in the house building industry as a young labourer with Suzuki Bros. He then moved to Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation in 1952, a position which led to Defence Construction 1951 Ltd. and his role as an Inspector of construction projects for the Federal Government. Joining Red River Construction in 1956 as Superintendent, Neil bought the company in 1964. He continued his active role in Red River as a Director and maintained his position as President of Big Bertha Boring Inc. until 2010. During his construction career Neil personified the belief of giving something back to his industry having served in numerous construction association offices. Neil was the President of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and Board member of the Western Canadian Roadbuilders Association, which culminated in becoming Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Construction Association in 1981. From 1981 to 1994, Neil served as the principal spokesman and founder of TRIP Canada (The Road Improvement Program) and the CRCI (Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure). This position led to his involvement on the Board of the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada. In 1986 he represented Canada by Chairing a Labour and Management OECD Conference in Paris, France on the subject of infrastructure needs. Neil was Chairman of the Board of Knox United Church, 1968, President of Southwood Golf & C.C , 1973 and 1974, Master of the St. Johns Masonic Lodge in 1975, President of his Shrine Unit the Arabian Horse guard in 1986, President of The St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg in 1996 and later active on the Advisory Board of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. At the time of his passing Neil held Honorary Life memberships at Southwood Golf and C.C., The Winnipeg Construction Association, The Canadian Construction Association, The Roads and Transportation Association of Canada. He also served his Provincial Government as chairman of the Board of The Manitoba Housing Corporation from 1996 - 1999. Neil's lifelong love of golf took him to Scotland on several occasions and he and his wife Verda enjoyed many overseas trips with their friends the Caletti's. His long association with the St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg led to Chairing its annual golf tournament for some 18 years, a popular Pro-am event for the benefit of child amputees. His work with The Champs Program of the organization was one of his proudest accomplishments. An author of numerous papers on the need for reinvestment in our country's transportation system, Neil found time to pen two biographical works dealing with his life and times. The first being "Rode Hard and Put Away Wet" and the second involving others and his immediate family, entitled, "Home and Hosed Down" - a legacy left to his children and grandchildren. Neil's work and life has taken him to the Northwest Territories, Bermuda, Hawaii, Trinidad, Scotland, Ireland, France and many villages and towns where his company installed sanitary and water facilities. Attending the Sandy Hook picnics where all his family gathered to celebrate the summer birthdays, was a holiday highlight, as were the winter birthdays, celebrated at the homes of his children. Neil took pride in attending his grandchildren's activities and acknowledging their accomplishments. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) robbed Neil of his ability to partake in all the things in his life that he enjoyed. The family would request donations, in lieu of flowers, to go to Cure PSP, 30 E. Padonia Road, suite 201, Timonium, MD 21093, or online through www.curepsp.org., or Shriner's Burn or Transportation Fund - Shrine House, 1155 Wilkes Ave, Winnipeg R3P 1B9 The family would like to thank the staff at St. Norbert Personal Care Home for caring for Neil, especially Medine, Yvonne, Carolyn, Doreen, Toni, Pam, Norman and Helana, as well as Tara Keyser and the Prime Program at Deer Lodge. A Memorial Service will be held at Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road, Winnipeg, on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 2:00 P.M., with Rev. Bill Millar and Ken Delisle officiating. Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped away and into the next room, I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other, that we still are. (Henry Scott Holland). NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com
Publish Date: Jul 26, 2014

NEIL STUART WITHER On Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home, Neil Stuart Wither, beloved husband of Verda Wither, passed away at the age of 79 years. Memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road. Longer obituary will follow in Saturday's paper. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com
Publish Date: Jul 23, 2014
Publish Date: Jul 26, 2014

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 12, 2014