Ivan WILLIAMS

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WILLIAMS: Ivan Alfred With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our husband, father, papa, grandpa, great-grandpa and friend, Ivan Alfred Williams in his 85th year. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at West-Man Nursing Home in Virden, Manitoba. Ivan was the loving husband of Leola (Studer) and father of his five children Keith, Joyce, Valerie, Debra and Terry. Ivan was born in Springvale District on June 10, 1924 to Norman and Elizabelle (Cheaters) Williams. He was the second child born in the family. He had an older sister Norma and two younger sisters Irene and Hazel. In 1935, tragedy struck the young family when their mother passed away suddenly. Ivan would have been 11 at the time. Ivan and Norma were forced to grow up a bit quicker to help with the younger sisters and the farming. In 1939, Ivan’s father remarried Ida (Wardle) and then Lloyd and Eleanor were born into the family. Ivan took his schooling at Springvale and continued to help his dad with the farming. On April 12, 1944, Ivan married the love of his life, Leola, (Studer), who had moved into the area with her family in 1937 from Eastend, Saskatchewan. They were married in St. Paul’s United Church in Virden. The newlyweds honeymooned in Winnipeg and upon their return to the Springvale District they rented and farmed the E1/2 11w-10-28, later buying it and then it became home to their family. Ivan was the third generation to farm in the district. Besides doing his own farming Ivan had a JD-H tractor and did custom work for other farmers as well. He also worked in Virden putting Massey Ferguson machinery together. Ivan and Leola spent one winter living in Virden and one in Winnipeg where he worked as an electrician. In 1952, the oil moved to the district and Ivan bought a truck and hauled oil and water. The first rig to move into the area was Commonwealth Oil and Ivan pulled it in with a small caterpillar. Hydro came to the area also in 1952 and Ivan worked as an electrician with his former neighbour and together they wired most of the farms in the area. In 1953 Ivan went up north to buy lumber from a sawmill to build a new house. The family was able to move into the house in 1956 when it was completed. Ivan replaced all the old buildings on the farm and then we purchased a herd of Hereford cows and a barn full of feeder pigs. This farm became later known as Flying W Ranch. Ivan’s biggest dream from his boyhood til now was to learn how to fly. In 1958 this dream became a reality when Ivan took his training at Virden Airport and became the pilot he had always dreamed of being. Ivan enjoyed flying so much that he started crop dusting with a PA-12. As his love of crop dusting grew, Ivan bought a few larger planes and started his own aerial spraying business called Williams Spraying Service. In 1962 Ivan and Leola joined the Manitoba Flying Farmers affiliated with International Flying Farmers and went on many flying tours and conventions throughout Canada, USA and Mexico. Ivan enjoyed many fishing, hunting and camping trips. They travelled on many trips to B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. They went on a trip to the Copper Canyon where the truck and trailer were put on a flatbed of a train. Around 1970, Ivan and Leola started driving a truck and trailer down south for the month of February but as their children grew and one by one left home and no more nanny was needed they started spending the winters – their last trip being in 2005. They also had a lakefront lot at Pyotts’ West Campground where they spent as much time as possible. They loved when family and friends came to visit. It was set up so they could fly in with the float plane (Ivan’s Baby) which he was able to taxi right up in front of his trailer and tie down for the weekend. This supercub was Ivan’s pride and joy! In 1998 Ivan and Leola retired to Virden from the farm. They moved a house in and kept busy doing yard work. In November 2006, deteriorating health for both Ivan and Leola necessitated a move to the West-Man Nursing Home where they were lucky to be able to be in the same room together till Ivan’s passing. Ivan left us all with many great memories. He was a gruff tough man with a real teddy bear heart inside. He lived life to its fullest and enjoyed spending time with family and friends especially over a good shot of rum. Papa, your memory will live on in all of us! Ivan was predeceased by his father Norman; mother Elizabelle; stepmother Ida; sister Irene; brothers- in-law Larry, Fred, Frank, Melbourne and Duane and sister-in-law Elvira. Left to mourn Ivan’s passing are his wife Leola (three months short of being married 65 years); sons Keith (Lois), Terry (Susan) daughters Joyce (Dave) Derksen, Valerie (Garry) Walker, Debra (Dennis) Smith, his grandchildren Colleen (Wayne), Aaron (Mary), Jason (Darlene), Angela (Allen), Trish (Rocky), Chad (Tisha), Shawna (Dwight), Michelle (Jason), Danielle, Denisha, Carmelle, Natasha and Teikon; his great-grandchildren Shane, Amonie, Devon, Brock, Ashley, Bethany, Olivia, Isaac, Amber, Brittany, Kaidryan, Hali, Tadyn and Dylan. Also by his sisters Norma, Hazel (Harry), Eleanor, brother Lloyd, (Carole), sister-in-law Betty, Eileen, Violet (Giles), Thelma (Wylie), Shirley (Ray) and brother-in-law Henry (Alice) as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives, friends and neighbours including the residents and staff at the West-Man Nursing Home. The ceremony to celebrate Ivan’s life was held on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church in Virden, Manitoba, with Rev. Jan Van Aertselaer officiating. Soloist was Lynda Lyng accompanied by Gladys Carefoot on piano. Other songs played were “He Was A Good Man”, “Angels Among Us” and “You Can Let Go”. Active pallbearers were his nephews Dennis Tough, Barry Tough, Garth Nixon, Kevin Williams, Darel Kilford and family friend Kent Mathieson. Ushers were Ivan’s friends John Liefso and Peter Dillon. A private family interment followed at Virden Cemetery. A tea and luncheon was held immediately after at the Virden Legion Hall served by the Legion Ladies Auxiliary. A movie “In Memory of Papa” was shown for everyone to enjoy. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Ivan may be made to Manitoba Flying Farmers, Box 718, Virden, Manitoba, R0M 2C0 or to a charity of your choice.You can remember me only that I am gone orYou can cherish my memory and let it live on.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 21, 2009