LEONARD ALBERT SELLNER

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LEONARD ALBERT SELLNER
April 10, 1938 - March 5, 2021

Len was born at the St. Josephs Hospital in Winnipeg - the second of three sons of Felix and Katherine Sellner. As the child of two proud German immigrants Len attended St. Josephs School and Parish and was a long standing member of this tight and loyal North End Catholic German Community.
As the middle child Len always struggled with authority and was fond of recounting the staff member he got to know best at St. Josephs School was the janitor since he was so often sent out of class into the hall. Len was an Altar Boy at St. Josephs, and member of the Air Cadets. As a teenager one of his favourite things to do was drive on Friday nights - just before midnight, to the Half Moon in Lockport. Len and three friends would eat a dozen "double" dogs along with fries and drinks. They would order before midnight and wait until 12:01 a.m., Saturday when the Friday Catholic restriction on eating meat had ended and then chow down.
Len loved to work and was proud to brag how he had never spent a day unemployed. He graduated high school on a Friday and his Mom sent him out to look for work first thing the following Monday morning. By 12:00 p.m. that same day he was officially employed by the CP Railroad as an Office Clerk. Len remained a railroad man working for CP, Soo Line, Can-Am Frieght Services and finally ended his career with Clarke. For the final 20+ years of his career Len was a freight broker - basically like a travel agent for freight. If you wanted to arrange shipping cargo by rail you could call the railroad companies directly or you could call Len instead. Since Len's company booked so many railroad cars the price was often cheaper to go through him as well as easier. For most of his time with Can-Am and Clarke Len ran the operations for not just Manitoba, but Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC and was respected and appreciated by all of his customers.
Len married his high school sweetheart Patricia (nee Stadther) in 1961 and for the next 57 years they lived happily together inseparable. After getting married they remained in the North End for a short while until they bought their house in West Kildonan in 1968 where they lived and raised their one child Chris. Len and Pat also had two beloved Shetland Sheep Dogs, Candy and Missy.
Len and Pat loved to travel and went on many family vacations all over North America including Florida, California, and the Maritimes. With Len's work there were also plenty of opportunities for business trips in Western Canada which he would turn into road trips for the family over the summer. Many joyful hours spent in the car through Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. In their later years Len and Pat went on many cruises including to the Caribbean and Alaska. Len and Pat also loved to visit with their dear friends Joy and Bud Pounds at their cottage in the Whiteshell and every year for two weeks Len would rent a cabin in the Whiteshell. Family was so important to Len that he would drive one set of his parents out for one week at the cabin, and then he would drive all the way back into the city the following week to return and pickup the other set. Len and Pat's final travelling was done via tour bus to the many casinos south of the border. Rarely a month would go by without another gambling junket.
Len spent the final months of his life surrounded by the people he loved the most...his son and daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Len is survived by his wife Pat, brothers, Ken (and Shirley) and Brian (and Beryle), son and daughter-in-law Chris and Lori, and three grandchildren, Felicia, Lucas and Reagan. Len also leaves behind his dear cousins Louise and Horst Eckes, as well as a number of other beloved nephews and nieces.
God was always at the center of Len's life, and everything he said or did always revolved around two precepts...work hard and be good. As Len's soul has returned to the Almighty we thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers - we love you all.
For over 50 years Len and Pat were proud members of St. Anthony of Padua Church in West Kildonan. A small private gathering was held on March 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. When things get back closer to normal we will have a full and proper service at St. Anthonys to remember and commemorate the life of this truly amazing man.

Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Brother and friend...
we love you and we miss you.

Family and friends may sign a
Book of Condolence at www.glenedenmemorial.ca

Glen Eden Funeral Home
204-338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 13, 2021