Obituary of Wilfrid Louis Curtis

Dad was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 22, 1930, the middle of three children, to Fred and Rosa Curtis. He grew up in St. Vital and was called up during the 1950 flood from the HMS Chippawa Reserves. Mom, Jeannine Violet Ahronson, proposed to Dad on a city bus and they were married on December 29, 1951. They spent their honeymoon on the train travelling to Flin Flon where Dad worked for the Manitoba Telephone System. Sheila, Tom, and Lauren were born there, before a transfer to Brandon, where Janet was born. The move to Steinbach in 1959 produced Norman, Philip, and Murray. Dad worked as the Central Office Foreman (and other things) until his retirement in 1986.

Dad and Mom were well connected in the community, with involvement in Kinsmen and Kinettes, Lions, Shrine, and the Steinbach Royal Canadian Legion Branch 190. He was a Life Member in both the Khartum Provost Corps and the Royal Canadian Legion. He was also highly active in the community, being Manager of the Steinbach Huskies and a founding member of the Oak Crescent Improvement Committee.

Dad bought the 160-acre Shack/farm near La Broquerie and coerced his kids to plant 20,000 Christmas trees there. He and Mom hosted numerous corn roasts, staff get togethers, bonfires, tree-cutting parties, and much more. There may or may not still be a still buried out there.

Mom and Dad enjoyed retirement, and travelled to Barbados, Australia, the East Coast, Wisconsin Dells and South Padre Island, and Dad inevitably ran into someone he knew. He very possibly knew everyone in Manitoba.

Mom passed away in 2012, leaving Dad lonely and heartbroken. Now reunited with Dad's passing on October 17, 2023, they are no doubt up to some mischief together.

Predeceased by beloved wife, Jeannine, parents Fred and Rosa Curtis, siblings Margreta and Hugh (Joan), son Tom, daughter-in-law Denise, grandson Jamie and a host of friends.

Celebrating his life are his children, daughter Sheila (Grant), daughter-in-law Margie, daughters Lauren (Rob), Janet (Peter), sons Norm (Beve), Phil (Deidra) and Murray (Melanie), and 17 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and extended family and friends.

The family would like to thank Stacy and the homecare workers at Niverville Credit Union Manor, and the staff of Heritage Life PCH, for their patient and extraordinary care for Dad.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, October 29, 2023, 1:30 pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Wilfrid, can be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 1160-675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB,R3E 0V9, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 190 Poppy Fund, Suite 180 Unit 3 20 Brandt Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y2 or a charity of one’s choice.