Obituary of FREDERICK DIXON YOUNG

Frederick Dixon Young

 It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of Frederick Dixon Young. On Saturday, September 21, 2019, loving husband and father of three, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away at the age of 87.
Fred was predeceased by his first wife, Kaye, his brother Don and his parents, Norman and Ninna Young. Fred is survived by his wife Jeannie Mackay, sister Gail (Jim), son Fred Young jr, (Sharon), son David Young, (Heather), son William (Bill) Young, (Diana); grandchildren, Scott, Ashleigh (Justin), Katie (Evan), Laura (Jean), Andrew, Thomas, Catherine; great-grandchildren, Mila, Maddison, Jack, Connor and Claire.

 Born in Regina on August 26th, 1932, Fred was the second of Ninna and Norman Young's three children. Fred, older brother Don and younger sister Gail all grew up on the outskirts of Winnipeg in what is now Fort Garry.

Fred attended General Byng High School and the University of Manitoba. There he excelled at curling, bowling, badminton and rifle. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, model building and aeronautics.

 Upon graduation Fred was hired by Avro Aeronautics in Montreal and began work on Canada’s now famous Avro Arrow. It was there that he met Catherine MacDonald, his first wife. Fred and Kaye had two children in Montreal, Fred Jr. and David. They might have stayed had the government not withdrawn support for a Canadian built fighter plane. With the end of the Avro Arrow many of Canada’s top engineers headed to the U.S., but Fred and Kaye chose instead to stay in Canada and moved back to Winnipeg where their third child, William, was born.

 They purchased their first and only home on Oxford Street in River Heights. The area was bursting with children, as was much of Winnipeg in the 60’s and the street was alive with games of street hockey, bike races, laughter and community.

 Fred completed his Master’s Degree in Engineering and moved quickly to become the Director of Materials and Research for the Manitoba Department of Highways. A dedicated employee of the Province for more then 35 years, Fred designed many of the highways and roadways that now criss-cross the Province. Not the ‘bad ones’ though, just the ‘smooth as a baby’s bottom’ ones.  An early adopter of renewable strategies and minimal environmental footprint, Fred was decades ahead of his time.

 Kaye died after a long illness, in 1997. With her passing Fred’s focus turned to his Grandchildren. He had been a generous and giving person and now he became ‘Super Grandpa’. Fred and Jeannie Mackay found each other and married in 2004. Fred was very blessed to have spent 15 wonderful years with Jeannie. Together they found great pleasure in golfing, road trips, traveling across Canada by train and Riverboat Cruises in Europe.

 Fred loved talking with (and sometimes lecturing) grandchildren. He loved hosting sleepovers, telling stories and always instilling the importance of kindness and caring in his grandchildren. Fred's enormous influence produced grandchildren with all the best qualities you could hope for in a child. Fred was passionate about Canada, the CBC, models, chocolate, friendship, grammar, chocolate, kindness, chocolate, Leonard Cohen, and travel.

 Fred’s family is grateful for the extraordinary care he received as his health declined. The staff of Riverwood Square, the Victoria Hospital, Extendicare Tuxedo Villa and the St. Boniface Hospital are commended for their generous and compassionate treatment of Fred, and his entire family.