WILLIAM IRVING CARR

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WILLIAM IRVING CARR If you ask people what they most remember about Bill Carr, they will probably list three things: 1) a dedicated and tireless worker, 2) a very good golfer and curler and 3) a pipe smoker. Bill passed away peacefully Thursday morning, March 10, 2016 at Riverview Health Centre, at the age of 92. He was predeceased by Inga, his wife of 63 years, his brothers, Stan (Rilda) and Cliff (Audrey) Carr of Carman, and his sisters, Marge (Fraser) Whiteside of Carman and Iona (Ian) Hind of Kelowna. Bill will be lovingly remembered by his two children Randell Carr and Cindy (Arnold) Huska, five grandchildren Jennefer (Leif) Larsen, Will (Brittney) Huska, Timothy Huska, Simon Carr and Isabelle Carr, and two great-grandchildren, Scarlett Larsen and Daisy Larsen. Born August 13, 1923, Bill was the youngest of Jack and Alice Carr's five children, raised on a grain farm in Homewood, Manitoba and the first of the family to attend University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 1945. Upon graduation, Bill joined the Royal Canadian Army shortly before VE Day and, after receiving his honourable discharge in December 1945, he joined the Economics division of the Canadian Wheat Board in Winnipeg. Bill's career took him to the Manitoba Department of Agriculture in 1948, the same year he married Inga Sigurdson of Arnes, Manitoba. In 1951, Bill and Inga moved to Cavalier, North Dakota, where Bill worked as an instructor in the Veterans Agriculture Program, part of the United States Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the G.I. Bill. Active members of the Cavalier community, Bill and Inga hosted many social evenings and enjoyed great success in local golf and curling competitions. After Cavalier, Bill took a job as Assistant County Agent in Glenwood, Minnesota, where he and Inga continued to be active in sports and entertainment and where they started a family with Randy born in 1957 and Cindy in 1959. In 1962, Bill and his family returned to Canada where Bill joined the Manitoba Department of Agriculture as Agriculture Representative in Selkirk. While in Selkirk, Bill spent two years as an evening commuter to the University of Manitoba where, in one of his proudest moments, he earned a Master's Degree in Agricultural Economics. His thesis, An Analysis of Viable and Subsistent Farming in the Interlake Area of Manitoba, is still accessible in the University archives. At the same time he was working so hard towards his Master's Degree, Bill was diagnosed with a bipolar condition that became the main challenge of the second half of his life. In 1966, he transferred to Winnipeg with the Department of Agriculture and in 1971 he was promoted to Livestock Economist with the Animal Industry Branch. In 1983, his medical condition forced Bill to take an early retirement and his career in agriculture came to an end. Post-retirement, Bill continued to be active in curling and golf, as a participant in Senior Leagues at the Wildewood Club and as a TV fan of Manitoba rinks at the Brier and Canadian golfers on the PGA Tour. He enjoyed summers at the Spruce Sands cottage on Lake Winnipeg, where he was the family BBQ chef and a 5:00 a.m. regular at the Northernaire Golf Course in Arnes. After morning golf, Bill kept himself busy puttering at the many tasks of a cottage owner. He especially loved a refreshing dip in the lake after mowing the lawn and on rainy days, the Cribbage board was never far away. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. Bill will also be missed by staff and residents at Thorvaldson Care Centre, Misericordia Health Centre and Riverview Health Centre, where he will be remembered as a dignified, enthusiastic and kind human being. Bill's family offers a heartfelt thank-you to the staff at all three of these institutions. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 12, 2016