MILLIAN KANIUGA

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MILLIAN (MILL) KANIUGA July 20, 1930 - March 8, 2016 Peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, Mill Kaniuga passed away at the age of 85 after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his mother Tekla, father Joseph, and brother Walter. Left to cherish Mill's memory are his wife of 54 years, Jennie; daughter Carol Hall (Jamie) and grandchildren Julia and Noah; and son Patrick (Sherry) and grandson Scotty. Mill was proudly born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, graduating from Isaac Newton High School. He knew the value of a dollar and hard work early on, setting bowling pins for a number of years as a teenager at Max's Bowling Alley on Selkirk Avenue and giving the money to his mom to help pay off the house. Sports were always a big part of Mill's life, either as a player or a spectator. Mill played point guard on the Isaac Newton Senior High School Basketball Champions and went on to play with Winnipeg Lightguard Infantry (WLI) on the Western Canadian Junior Championship Basketball Team. In baseball he was selected to play in the North vs. South Annual All-Star Game, playing to sold out crowds under the lights at the old Osborne Stadium. He then went on to play senior baseball with the CUAC Blues, winning two city championships. Most recently Dad was thrilled with the playoff run his Toronto Blue Jays made. Mill was a dedicated husband and father. He met the love of his life, Jennie, when they both worked at the Manitoba Legislative Building in the late 1950s. They married in 1961 and raised their children Carol and Pat in the home Mill designed and built in 1963 on Oakdale Drive in Charleswood. Dad was a handy guy - something he instilled in Pat. He was always ready with a listening ear and sage advice delivered in a gentle, loving manner. Mill enjoyed camping, wine making and gardening. He prided himself in growing an abundance of carrots, potatoes and cucumbers in his large garden, and loved to compete with his neighbours to see who could grow the largest tomatoes. Needless to say, the grandparents and their neighbours were supplied with many vegetables over the years. His career was in drafting, surveying, engineering and construction, taking him to many projects around Manitoba. Several family memories were made towing the Bonair camper trailer to his work locations such as Paint Lake and Flin Flon, with Jennie and the kids along for the trip. Mill retired from the Surveys Branch of the Department of Mines and Natural Resources in 1991. Mill was a wonderful grandfather. He was filled with joy and wonder that he was blessed to have three beautiful grandchildren. Grandpa always had more than enough time to listen, laugh and enjoy the young lives that surrounded him, and they adored him too. Family and friends cherish memories of this kind, generous, gentle man who was wiser than he knew and whose love was felt by all who knew him. We are comforted knowing he loved God and is now in his heavenly home. Our family extends a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Harrington and staff at Health Sciences Centre for helping Dad gain an extra three happy years. Also to the kind, loving staff at Deer Lodge Centre for the amazing care and quality of life they afforded him those three years. The funeral service will be on Saturday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Glen Eden Funeral Home, 4477 Main Street, West St. Paul, MB. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Health Sciences Centre Foundation or Deer Lodge Centre Foundation. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenedenmemorial.ca Glen Eden Funeral Home & Cemetery 204-338-7111

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 11, 2016