Obituary
Ron (Roland) Arthur Brazier
“I’m on the “last train to Yuma” was Dad’s metaphor for his declining health. On January 25, 2021, our much loved husband, father, poppa, father-in-law and great-grandfather disembarked at his final destination.
Born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan on November 9, 1928, Dad was a lifelong Roughriders fan. In fact, he loved all things Saskatchewan even though the family moved to Winnipeg in 1933.
Dad spoke fondly of his early experiences in Winnipeg. He loved to share stories of living in the West Hotel, of Linden Avenue and Ashburn Street. His eyes sparkled when he told of devious childhood pranks (water guns from under the wooden sidewalk and up the skirts of unsuspecting women; climbing the coal briquette mountain; jumping on a slowly moving train and getting his belt caught). In particular, he spoke of experiences with his own father whom he revered – the flooding of a backyard ice rink, the speed of the Lady Anne bullet boat designed and built by his father. Dad wistfully recalled distance visits to see his father who was stricken with TB and hospitalized at Ninette for four long years.
A cadet in his youth, Dad was a crack shot with a rifle (or a sling shot or any other projectile). An avid hockey player, Dad was proud of his stick-handling skills. He was a skilled shooter and excelled at right wing. Though he was offered a spot with a farm team in Saskatchewan, he declined. Dad sometimes mused that he might have come close to the ‘big show’. His incredible talent was still on display years later as we watched him soar on the ice of Lake Winnipeg.
At a young age, Dad joined his father at MacDonald Brothers (later Bristol Aerospace) working his way up over 44 years to become Superintendent of Aircraft Overhaul. He loved aeroplanes and helicopters of all shapes, sizes and capabilities.
Dad met Agnes Russin in 1950 at a dance at the Y. He was quickly smitten with her beauty and intelligence. Married on September 15, 1951, their life together began on Minto Street where Linda was born, moved to William Avenue where Leslie came along and then to Polson Bay where Louise completed the family. In 1961, a career opportunity in the USA saw the family sell everything to prepare for a big move. However, Dad was not keen on the potential living conditions and it was decided the he would stay with Bristol Aerospace. He just couldn’t see raising a family in the Las Vegas area. Instead, a home was built in St. Charles to his and mom’s specifications. Knox Street saw the addition of Misty the cat, another female, making the ratio 5 to 1! There were constant home improvements. The white brick wallpaper in the kitchen witnessed hours of uproarious debate at Dad’s insistence that the world is “round on the round side and flat on the flat side”.
Family summers were spent at the beach where Dad played with his girls in the water causing squeals of pure girly delight, days ending with walks for ice-cream. The year Patricia Beach flooded, Dad woke to find his cigarettes floating beside his cot. Everything but Mom and the kids was abandoned and Dad returned days later to pick up the wet heap, dead frogs and all. That was the end of tent camping. In 1966 a 17’ trailer was purchased and for five years, Spruce Sands was the family getaway spot. Bonfires, beans and beer with friends made for memorable nights. And in 1971, paradise was found in an unspoiled lot at Valhalla Beach. Mom and Dad worked tirelessly together – sweating, bleeding and sometimes dissenting. The backbreaking work of clearing the land and building the ‘cottage’ began an all-consuming affair of the heart that lasted for over 30 years.
When Dad retired in 1991, Valhalla became the full time home base. Continued expansion and amateur construction never ceased. These were the days of massive bonfires, the ‘tippie’ canoe, cross country skiing, hiking over Lake Winnipeg ice-mountains and many games. Handcrafted birdhouses and feeders attracted so many birds. And as the grandchildren grew, there were rides on the mower, straw bale forts, piles of fallen leaves, the basketball court, “Zim Zam” (at which Dad excelled), horseshoes, baseball, catch and, more bonfires.
Our homes saw many strays, two legged and four legged. Sometimes gruff, Dad was invariably kind. But if given a choice between people and animals, he would choose critters every time. Dad embraced the menagerie of cats and dogs that came with family members and those that frequently visited from the neighbourhood. He had a special way with all of them. But it was Kela, their adopted German Shephard (yes, another female) that he adored most. There aren’t words to describe how much she was loved nor how much she was missed when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
After Dad’s quadruple bypass, it was tough to keep up with Valhalla’s maintenance needs. In his vernacular, Dad was ‘exhaustipated’ and they were forced to make the agonizing decision to move back to the city.
Since 2019, Dad lived with a representative sample of his substantial stuffed animal collection at Meadowood Manor Personal Care Home. The family is deeply grateful for the love, humour and caring of all the staff, in particular those working the second floor and in the kitchen who saw through our beloved ‘grumpy old man’ to the lovable character inside. He said what he thought, without guile or filters.
Dad is survived by his wife of 69 years, Agnes, daughters Linda Lamoureux (Ken), Leslie Brazier Smit (Rob) and Louise Brazier (Les), grandchildren Corey Smit, Cassandra Dawes (Nigel), Jonathan Lamoureux (Mithila) and Daniel Lamoureux; great-grandchildren Chase Smit, Riley Smit and Benson Dawes; sister Connie Lacey of Chilliwack, B.C. He was predeceased by his parents Alice Anne Brazier (nee Paradis) and Joseph Arthur Brazier.
“I want to look in the mirror at the end of my life and know that I did right by my girls”, he said. Dad, you did right by all your girls. The family celebrates the love he had for all of us, and we for him.
In keeping with his wishes, a private family gathering will be held when circumstances allow. If you would like to remember Dad, you are invited to make a donation to the Winnipeg Humane Society or a local pet rescue organization. Alternatively, you might plant a tree in his name. He would like that.
GRANDPA
“Papa, from you I learned friendship, patience, kindness to animals and more practical things than I could ever fit on a thousand pages. …you were and still are one little boy’s best friend, mentor and partner in mischief. A little boy who felt his grandfather needed a front end loader and vowed to get him one (still working on it). The same little boy who risked getting in an unforeseeable amount of trouble by throwing that extra log on the fire, just so he could spend a bit longer outside with his Papa. You know what? I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’ll never be able to express how important you really are. I’ll be a better dad because of you. “
DAD
92 years
Is a pretty good story
And, at the end
There’s no need
To be sorry
You lived your life
You did your best
And now it’s time
For you to rest
For you
Shock value
went unrejected
You’d love to do
the unexpected
We learned to always
Be most wary
As you were master
Of the contrary
A sensitivity
You thought unseen
Sometimes you would
Play it ‘mean’
But really
It was just a cover
Hid a warm heart
From being discovered
You’d love to play
The grumpy guy
But there’d be a twinkle
In your eye
And we’d know that it
was just a lie
You played it like ‘Walter’
But really, you’re ‘Jack’
No matter what happened
You’d have our back
No matter how much
You’d be stern and gruff
Your grandkids just
Couldn’t get enough!
Of giant bonfires
‘Neath a sea of stars
Of smuggled, contraband
chocolate bars
Of rousing games
Of cards and Trouble
Oh, the racket when you hit
That bubble!
And endless rides
On the garden tractor
Time and gas
Was not a factor
A look out the window
And we could see
A grandchild laughing
And full of glee
And many Zim Zam
Competitions
Water volleyball
In all conditions
Skis in winter
Leaf forts in fall
You made sure
That we had it all
And remember
our surprise
The afternoon
the canoe capsized
And there you were
Imagine that
You came back up
Wearing your hat!
You loved your pets
The tame and wild
Kela was like
A beloved child
You fed the deer
And all the birds
But for thieving squirrels
You had harsh words!
Yes, with squirrels
You went to battle
But they were crafty
And hard to rattle
And in the end
You were amused
By all the tactics
Those scoundrels used!
You always had the best expressions
You’d spout them off
With no concessions
Your headaches were
never small or bad
Big fat ones
were the ones you had!
And if you were hungry
You would state, with flair
You could eat the ass
of a dead bear
(An expression dad,
Even though you’re gone,
Through this daughter,
Still lives on!)
And when you talked
to us, of dying
You’d not demure
No point in lying
You would tell us
When reflecting
A train to Yuma
You were expecting
You’ve left us now
And we know it’s true
there’s nothing left
That we can do
But remember your love
And not make a fuss
We know that you’ll
Watch over us.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ron Brazier January 25 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Selkirk, Province: Manitoba