WILLIAM BILL MACKENZIE BOYER

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WILLIAM (BILL) MACKENZIE BOYER It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, William (Bill) Boyer, on Monday, December 10, 2018, at the age of 93, at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife and best friend, Connie, whom he loved dearly; his children, Rory (Nancy), Kathy (Garry), Bill (Linda), Dan (Donna), Craig (Tracy), Susan (Keith), Tim (Louise) and Janice (Andre); 20 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; his sisters-in-law Helen and Marline Petersen; many nieces; nephews; and friends. Dad was predeceased by his grandson, Robert, in 2009. Dad was born on November 29, 1925, in Comber, Ontario, the fifth child of Fred and Eliza Boyer. The family lived in many places in Ontario as Fred found work, but Comber was always considered home. Although raised in the depression, he had many fond memories of his early childhood with his four older sisters. One of his most cherished memories was his mother teaching him to read as a very young child. As the family grew older and started families of their own, there were many trips between Manitoba and Ontario we were blessed to make and maintain those relationships with our aunts and cousins. Family was very important to Dad and he maintained close family ties with his sisters and their families throughout his life. Work brought Dad to Manitoba where he met the love of his life, Connie Petersen. They married on May 17, 1952, and spent the next 66 wonderful years together raising their eight children and enjoying life. Dad worked for Manitoba Hydro up to his retirement and spent the majority of his tenure in Great Falls. He was involved in the building and commissioning of the Pine Falls and Jenpeg Generating Stations and the major overhaul of the Grand Rapids Generating Station. Dad was an avid baseball player and was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2014 with the Pine Falls Canadians Men's Fastball Team. Dad was the first pitcher in Manitoba to pitch the windmill style of pitching and it earned him the nickname "Spider". Dad also loved curling and was deeply involved in the Great Falls Curling Club, from teaching his children the game to making ice and maintaining the curling rink. Dad also enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his sons and grandsons. The family would like to thank the staff at Brightwater Senior Living of Tuxedo for the excellent care and compassion they gave to our dad for the past year while in their care. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Grace Hospital for the excellent care he received on each of his visits. A celebration of Dad's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at Sobering Funeral Chapel in Beausejour, Manitoba. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Society, 7 - 414 Westmount Drive, Winnipeg, MB R2J 1P2, or to a charity of choice. SOBERING FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, Beausejour (204) 268-3510 or MB Toll Free 1-877-776-2220 www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 13, 2018, Dec 15, 2018