Obituary of GILBERT BRUCE MCKAY

GILBERT BRUCE MCKAY

July 31, 1927 - July 19, 2018

 Peacefully, on the morning of July 19, 2018, our loving father went to be with our mother. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Barb (Jeff Hodge), John (Jennifer Latoza), Doug (Yuriem Nodarse Soler), Rita (Gerry Duynisveld), and his grandchildren, Aynsley, Amadis, Annalise, Stephen and Cole, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Doris (nee Lynn), his mother Jane, father Harry, his brother Russel, and his in-laws Peggy, Lily, Mike, Fred, Kay, Jim, Jessie, Marie and Neil.

Gib was raised on the family farm in Meadowvale, MB during the dirty '30s. It was there he learned the value of hard work, the worth of a dollar and keeping everything that could have a possible use in the future. He was an avid athlete, playing hockey and baseball, later in life golfing, cross country skiing and curling. Doris and Gib were married in 1955. They raised their family in Transcona, where they spent the majority of their married life. Later, they enjoyed living with Doug, Yuriem and their family. Gib had a 47 year career with the CNR and Via. He started shoveling coal, then spent most of his career as a locomotive engineer. He continued to farm the family homestead until the early 1970s. After selling, he missed farming so much that he bought another farm close by. There he planted thousands of spruce trees, which he enjoyed tending to after his daily early morning round of golf. In the winters, Gib and Doris also skied daily, needing only a small amount of snow. In these last few years, he enjoyed a good game of pool (thank you Flea Whiskey's!). We could not have asked for a better father, grandfather or uncle. He would do anything for his family and friends and always enjoyed visiting with them. Gib was a man of few words, a man of action who seemed to know how to fix everything. Although he was affected by dementia in his later years, he never lost his unique brand of humour.

The family would like to thank Julie, Jojo and all the staff at Home Instead Senior Care, Autumn from the W.R.H.A. and the staff at Brightwater Senior Living. Special thanks to Mireya Soler and Juan Nodarse for their care and support.

A celebration of a life well-lived will be held on Saturday, July 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St., Winnipeg. Interment of both Doris and Gibby will take place after the funeral at the Millbrook Cemetery in Anola.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.