Charles E Colyer passed away in March 2010 but, due to unforeseen circumstances and the vagaries of time, the final step has not yet been taken. Though his music was silenced a full decade past, the loss of Charles is still fresh in the hearts and minds of his family and friends.
Charles attended Earl Grey School, Kelvin, St. John’s College, and the University of Manitoba and, professionally, he was a writer and communicator with C.P.R., E.H. Price, and Howes Waldon and though these formed the foundation of his life they were not the full measure of this man.
Although Charles (aka Uncle Charlie or Uncle Chuck) may not have been a wealthy man, he was so rich in love and friendship that he was the envy of many others but such a good and humble man that no one truly begrudged him that wealth. Starting at a young age he collected pen pals from all around the world, for whom he cared deeply, even if he never met them in person. He even personally designed Christmas cards and found the oddest, yet perfectly appropriate, gifts to send to the many people in his life.
Music was a large part of Charles’ life, starting with playing the piano and several other instruments with the Winnipeg’s Boys Choir and, continuing to the last day he was able, playing piano and singing for the residents of many a retirement or nursing home to bring a little joy and excitement to others as often as possible. He joined Sing Out Winnipeg in 1969 as music director and he wrote the music and lyrics to many a song.
His other pursuits included his vegetable garden—Charles was a member of Manitoba Naturalists and St. Vital Agricultural Society—and photography—it was a rare sight to see Charles without his camera.
At the end of their lives, Charles took on the incredibly difficult task of caring for his parents Eric and Eileen showing once again the incredible strength of character that was the thread of his life. Ten years on, Charles is remembered as a strong, humble,and good-natured man by those left behind: His partner Karen and brother Robert (Bob) and sister-in-law Thérèse (Terri), and honorary brother Arthur Parker, as well as his nieces and nephews—Glenn Coulman and Karla Schreiber (the children of his sister Daphne, who passed in June 2020, and Gary Coulman (1998)) and Michèle and Christopher Colyer (Bob and Terri’s children)—and grandnieces and grandnephews, Thomas and Virginia (Karla and Tony Schreiber), and Philippe, Liane, Patrick,and Maïa (Michèle and Dan Cayer).
As per his wishes, Charles will be interred with his parents in the family plot at St John’s Cathedral Cemetery in Winnipeg, MB.
Join us for a live-streamed celebration of a life well lived and one last chance to say goodbye to a beloved man on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 11 am local time (12pm EDT, 10am MDT, 9am PDT ).
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Charles Colyer Friday March 26th 2010..
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba