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LORNE RUSSELL SUNLEY
Date of Passing: Sep 05, 2023
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryLORNE RUSSELL SUNLEY
Lorne Sunley, residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, died peacefully on September 5, 2023, at Grace Hospice from complications of lung cancer.
Lorne was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Katherine Szeler in 2019; his parents, Alan and Florence Sunley (in 2012 and 2008 respectively); and his elder brother, Robert Sunley in 2013. He is survived by his daughter, Kelly Szeler Dickinson; younger brother, Kenn Sunley; niece, Chani-Marie; nephews, Sean, Darrin and Kevin; grandnibling Sara.
A nerdy geek from a young age, Lorne was obsessed with science and technology in many fields. He was a well respected and talented software developer and data guru most recently at Warehouse One/Parian Logistics, and before that with Infomart, Yamaha Music and Compushare, as well as his own consulting endeavours (Entity Systems and Lorne Sunley Consulting). He was an avid reader with an eidetic memory, and though his interests ranged from philosophy to history to the classics, he had a vast collection of science fiction which he read and re-read many times.
Lorne was a man of many passions. In addition to being a loyal patron with Kathy of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Opera, the Royal Manitoba Theatre, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Rainbow Stage and the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Lorne was an avid photographer, spending many years photographing animals at the Zoo (with the “big cats” – tigers and snow leopards being a special fondness) and participated in many local photography groups and photoshoots. His love of photography took him to the heights of the Rockies, the west coast of Canada, Paris, Scotland, Ireland, England and Iceland in search of perfect landscape photos.
In the past few months as Lorne’s health declined rapidly and significantly, his daughter Kelly relocated to be with him and met many friends, colleagues and former colleagues who shared their stories about how they knew and loved Lorne and the impact he had on them. Although he may have moved to the Great Computer in the Sky (as one person put it), his zaniness, warmth, generosity, knowledge, flamboyance, and pure zest for life will resonate forever. He loved cats big and small, red wine and walking 20,000 steps a day. He was, and always will be, a character. Although he loved being the centre of attention, as per his wishes, there will be no formal service; he would prefer you drank a glass of wine and lived your life fully and fabulously in whatever way brings you joy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations which were near and dear to Lorne: the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (https://wso.ca/), the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (https://www.rwb.org/) or the Assiniboine Park Zoo Animal Care Program (https://www.assiniboinepark.ca/)
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 09, 2023
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Lorne was a pretty-laid-back-from-the-get-go guy, a grade 11 and 12 classmate-friend of mine in 1965-67 at Silver Heights Collegiate. We kept in touch into the first year of university during the first year of U of W. In grade 12, Lorne came into his own just as the completely baffling, infamous Physics PSSC course was being piloted. Even the teacher was unable to explain the answers, and she and the rest of us always turned to him for explanations and verifications. He was also the only one in class who knew how to operate a sliderule, which was being allowed in the classroom for the first time. Suddenly the class nerd became known, overnight, as "Sliderule", the cool SHCI physics genius. We eventually lost touch in university and it wasn't till the mid-70s, when I was back in Winnipeg, that we met up at one of his then-favorite spots, Churchill's. He was magnanimously hosting, sipping brandy and smoking foreign cigarettes from a tin. He seemed to be at the pinnacle of coolness on that convivial reunion. That Lorne later got more into photography is not surprising. (He and Robert were both taking photos as early as 1966.) I will add that--as you can see from the charities he supported--that Lorne was an arts fan as well as a bright sciences-computer guy. He loved music: Beatles, Dylan, Ravi Shankar (in his Indian period when he started lotus-positioning). I used dropping by his house to listen to "Blonde on Blonde" and "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" when those albums first came out; his parents' stereo was excellent! Lorne was truly one-of-a-kind, an individual, and true to himself. He is one of the most memorable persons I have ever met or had the pleasure of knowing. My sincere condolences to his children and family. Richard Davies Edmonton - Posted by: Richard Davies (high school pal) on: Oct 02, 2023
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Lorne and Kelly joined us for a few dinners over the last two years and we are so grateful to have spent that time together. He was a fun guy and we will miss him very much. It’s been a terrible blow to lose both Kathy and Lorne, heartbreaking for Kelly especially. Cheers, Lorne, you will be missed and fondly remembered. - Posted by: Karen Hardy (Sister in law and friend ) on: Sep 13, 2023
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My sincere condolences to Kelly, Kenn, and to all who knew and will undoubtedly miss Lorne. He was a great customer and a great friend. I look fondly on my times at the symphony with him, at wine tastings, and as his supplier of all things photographic. It was always a joy to have him come in and have some of his pictures printed, whether they were of his beloved big cats, travel, or otherwise. But the most meaningful were always his beautiful shots of Katherine, of whom he was so proud. His steadfast love for her was inspiring. Be well my friend. Cheers to you, and may you forever sip the finest wines. - Posted by: Andrew Toews (Friend) on: Sep 09, 2023
