CHRISTOPHER GEORGE QUANTRILL

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CHRISTOPHER GEORGE QUANTRILL Neebaswe Meengwuninnine (Seven Feathers Eagle Man) Tragically, on September 10, 2006, Christopher George Quantrill passed away at home in Lakeland, Manitoba at the age of 33 years. Chris's memory will be lovingly cherished by his wife, Bre, and his adoring children, Joshua and Helena. Also missing him dearly are his mother and her husband, Shirley and Jeffry Ryerse; brother Dana Quantrill (Sheleen, Christian, Walter); sisters, Cynthia Monette (Chris, Leslie, Devan, Nico, Cody), and Colleen McKay (Junior, Brennen); father and mother-in-law, Tony and Nancy Buck; sisters-in-law, Shannon Buck (Ashleigh, Damien, Lauren), Jerilynn Wood (Abe, Gregory, Jonah) and Jessica Buck; and grandmothers-in-law, Hazel Titus and Maria Buck. Chris had a large extended family with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Arlene Spence, Winston Spence, Jon Spence, and Nicole Setlack always held a special place in his heart. Chris was predeceased by his father and his wife, George and Dorothy (Keeper) Quantrill, as well as his grandparents, George and Thelma Quantrill, and Walter (Cook) Chief and Esther Spence. Chris was born on October 31, 1972 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He lived in Brokenhead Ojibway Nation until grade 4, when he moved to Winnipeg. After leaving school for a time, he returned and earned his high school diploma from Kildonan-East Collegiate. One of the highlights was his involvement with the drama production of Dracula. Following graduation, he returned to the reserve and worked for the Brokenhead band, first in the Health Centre, and then as an Educational Support Person/Teacher Assistant. Chris and Bre were married in 1997 and began to build their life together in Brokenhead. In 1998, he was able to fulfill one of his life's dreams and earned his private pilot's license with the Winnipeg Flying Club. In 2003, the family moved to Lakeland and he worked for the Pine Creek School Division as an Educational Assistant. Chris loved his family very much. He was extremely proud of his children and bragged about Josh and Laners anytime he could. Chris was a very private and modest person with a wide range of interests and talents. These included playing guitar and he had the ability to hear a song and then play it. Chris was also known for the magic tricks he performed. In addition to card and coin tricks, he developed a reputation for being able to levitate. Chris was also an artist and he could draw anything with amazing realism. Chris was the essential outdoorsman, enjoying and excelling at hunting and fishing. He had a respect for nature and was always willing to share his knowledge and experience in these areas, feeling that it was a disappearing way of life that had to be protected. This passion led him to join the Labbatt Wildlife Club, for which he served a term on the executive. Some of his favourite times were those shared with his group of hunting buddies, known as Team Giver. By far though, Chris's greatest gift was his ability to work with youth. He had a gentle, playful nature that gave him an instant connection with young people and he devoted countless volunteer hours to the activities he organized for them. He established a drop-in centre in Brokenhead and continued this work by holding gym nights at the school in Langruth. He cared deeply about the kids he worked with and always made the time to offer a listening ear and encouragement to them. During his brief life, Chris touched many lives and gave much of himself; his passing has left us with unspeakable sadness. A celebration of Chris's life will take place on Thursday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lakeland Cemetery. Honourary pallbearers are Dana Quantrill, Jon Spence, Bob Jackson, Tom Barnes, Rob Brown, Ben Gilbey, Jeff Sosiak and Mike Titus. A trust fund has been set up for Joshua and Helena at the TD Canada Trust, Portage Branch, 102 Saskatchewan Ave. West, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, R1N 0M1. Clarke's Funeral Home, Gladstone in care of arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to Chris's family by visiting our website at www.clarkesfuneralhome.com What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. - Albert Pike

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 16, 2006