Kenneth Gordon Runions
February 22, 2020
Memorial Donation
Kenneth Gordon Runions was born in Morse, Saskatchewan, February 11, 1925. He passed away February 22, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta.
When Ken was nine, his parents tragically passed away. Ken and his two younger sisters went to other family members. Barbara (6) and & Vivien (8) were raised by their Aunt Eva and Uncle Edwin Fry. Ken, was separated from his sisters, and homed by his grandparents in Antler, Saskatchewan. They made it very clear that having Ken in their home was an inconvenience. Their expectation was that he move out after completing Grade VIII. In collaboration with his teacher, Ken “failed” Grade VIII and sat through Grade IX in his one room prairie school.
The Second World War provided the opportunity for independence. He enlisted in the army, left his Antler situation, gained worldly experience and began to achieve financial independence. With the Infantry, he saw action in Holland and at war’s end managed an excellent posting in Berlin. On his return to Canada in 1947 his army savings paid for a truck, and he established his first business; hauling grain in the United States and Canada as well as seasonal road contracts.
He met Sarah Moen. They married and bought the Antler, International Harvester dealership in 1949. He volunteered for numerous organizations (usually as treasurer) in village and church life. Four children, Valerie, Gordon (deceased 2010), Neil and Ivan were born in Antler. In 1960, Ken sold his Antler dealership, and purchased the Virden, Manitoba IH dealership. For the next three years the Runions family lived in the house that is now the Virden Pioneer Home Museum.
The move to Virden allowed Ken to redirect his energies from committee work to personal growth. He achieved both his private glider and pilot’s licence. His true learning passion, however, was Advanced Bookkeeping, with Elizabeth Dryden’s tutelage.
After selling his business in the late 1960’s, he became Secretary-Treasurer of the Fort La Bosse School Division, then Controller of the growing Virden founded TransX trucking business.
In 1979, Ken became the accountant for Restaurant Dubrovnik in Winnipeg which had been co-founded by Valerie. He followed her to Le Beaujolais in 1989. Building on his affinity for numbers and machines, he delved enthusiastically into computer education.
Sarah passed away in 1994 after a lengthy battle with cancer. During her illness Ken was her dedicated caregiver. A man who previously had done no housework now cooked, cleaned and had a spreadsheet for medications and doctors’ appointments.
Ken retired and thrived in his Senior’s life: travel, regular exercise walking, square dancing, round dancing, computer clubs, and a deep dive into the family’s genealogy.
His active senior years were shared with Ann Neufeld, whom he admired greatly. Ann’s family, Richard and Karen Swystun and Joanne and Michael Nairne made Ken feel very welcome.
Diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in 2017, his children moved him closer to their families in Alberta and BC so they could assist him. “Team Ken”; his three surviving children, Catherine Emrick, Caryl Malcolm, Peter Stone and Brian Owen tag-teamed support in his final years and stayed with him 24/7 during Palliative Care.
His personal commitment to “doing things well” was deeply honed into his children and grandchildren (Milana, Leanne, Adam, Cale, Jeff and Derek). When we think of Ken and everything that made him the man he was, we are proud of his resilience and highly developed code of independence, hard work, honesty and respect for others, that he remained true to through his life’s many challenges.
Grateful thanks to the many people in different retirement homes Father resided in: Parkway Retirement Community and Rosewood Retirement Residence in Winnipeg, Seasons in High River, Alberta, and finally Colonel Belcher Veterans Care in Calgary. Ken’s family deeply appreciates the dedication of all those that provided Ken with care during his final years, with special mention to RN Sara Hill at Seasons. Thank You! Also, Kudos to the Canadian Government and the staff at Veterans Affairs Canada for their support of veterans.
Please consider a donation to the Virden Pioneer Home or any of your own choice. A Celebration of Life will be planned post Covid-19.
February 22 2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Kenneth Gordon Runions February 22 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Virden, Province: Manitoba