William (Bill) Edward Kelly

1922 ~ 2016

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,

and love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

The family announces the peaceful passing of their beloved father and grandfather Bill today Monday, November 21, 2016 at the Beausejour Hospital.

Bill was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba on July 13th, 1922, and always claimed that the town was so small that he was the New Year’s baby; his joke not ours! Dad lived on a farm outside Portage before joining up with the Royal Canadian Artillery to fight in WWII, where he served Canada with Distinction in England, France and Holland. Bill met our Mom, Sadie, in Winnipeg and moved to Beausejour in 1962. He was a great father and devoted husband to Sadie and together they traveled the world. Dad and Mom were the best of friends and did absolutely everything together, and we are sure they are up there right now enjoying a good game of Scrabble, Mom winning as per usual.

Bill’s Mom and Dad predeceased him many years ago, and he graciously accepted Sadie’s parents, John and Margaret, as his own. Bill and Sadie lost their son Grant in 1956 and Bill lost Sadie in body, but never in mind, in 2011. All are sadly missed by his daughter Shelagh and her partner Deb Dunstan of Beausejour, his son Greg and partner Iskra Sarafov of Toronto, the Bug in his heart and mind, Alexandra Sarah Victoria – his granddaughter Sasha who always kept him, and us, smiling, and his furry companion, Quinny aka Puddin’ Head.

The Kelly family wishes to especially thank Bill’s extended family and friends, which were always there for him, and for the wonderful care he received from Veteran Affairs, I.E.R.H.A. Home Care Services, Dr. Van Rensburg and the staff of the Beausejour Hospital.

Memorial donations to the Canadian War Museum or the Winnipeg Humane Society would be greatly appreciated by the family. Respecting Bill’s wishes, there will be no formal service, but there will be “yet, one twice” another game of Scrabble, and although we may lose (we will), we will laugh and be as one. In closing, from a friend from afar, “I’m sorry to hear that another member of the Greatest Generation is now answering reveille with the rest of his Company in the vast beyond.” Nite, Nite, our Hero, “keep your nose to the grindstone.’

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Bill in the Spring/Summer of 2017.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

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