Beloved PERRIN

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PERRIN:Beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, Alexander Perrin, peacefully passed from this world on November 11, 2013, in Brandon, Manitoba at the age of 94 years. He was predeceased by his cherished wife Stella in 2011 and is survived by his family: son Tom (Fran), daughter Joanne (Robert Hurley), much-loved grandchildren Jonathon and Jennifer (Sam), close family friend Janice, and several very-treasured extended family members and friends. Alex was a practical man with a keen intellect and ‘jack-of-all trades’ abilities. This combination held him in good stead throughout his lifetime, both in the workplace and at home. He was not content to merely study the theory of a subject; he also practically applied this knowledge to the nth degree! For example, Al studied astronomy in great detail and built his own telescopes ‘from scratch’. Because of his great love of Spanish music, he crafted his own guitars and taught himself how to play flamenco. He was an avid ham radio operator who constructed much of his own equipment over the years. The list goes on and on. Al’s parents, of Ukrainian heritage, emigrated from Austria to rural Manitoba at the turn of the 20th century. Over the years, the family moved several more times to surrounding rural areas while expanding to include thirteen children. Al, the second-youngest, was born on March 29, 1919. The completed family unit settled in Winnipeg when Al was a young boy. Each family member helped out as much as possible. Prior to World War II, Al worked as a pin-setter in a bowling alley, a farm hand, a groundskeeper, a chauffeur, a sawyer’s assistant and a gold miner/machinist! He also had a natural affinity for electronics, which made him the ‘go-to’ person with family and friends whenever an appliance or piece of electronic equipment went awry. In 1942, Al enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and became a Wireless Operator Air Gunner or WAG. After several months of training he was shipped overseas and loaned to the Royal Air Force, where he he worked in transport command dropping supplies to the British 14th Army in Burma. Once the RCAF became established in India, Al was reassigned to the newly-created Squadron 435 where he continued with similar duties. By the end of the war, Al had been promoted to Warrant Officer II and was honorably discharged. After the war, Al’s military training and experience, plus his natural affinity for electronics, lead him to employment with the Department of Transport. He held various positions including Radio Operator, Electronics Technician, Officer-in-Charge and Station Manager. While working in many different areas of Canada, including the far north, he continued to help support his family. In 1949, Al and Stella were married. They were transferred several more times before settling in Brandon with their two children. When the children were grown and Al had retired, he became busier than ever with his grandchildren and his many hobbies! Although Al’s keen interest in life remained, once he lost his beloved Stella his health began to deteriorate. He had recently started to express his desire to ‘go home’, where he looked forward to being reunited with family and friends. Thus it is very fitting that Al, a World War II veteran, chose to leave this world on Remembrance Day and enthusiastically continue his adventures in the Great Beyond! Al was predeceased by his loving family members: wife, Stella; parents, Dmytro and Anna; twelve brothers and sisters; and many extended family members. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Al’s life will be announced in the spring of 2014. If desired, donations in Al’s honour may be made to a charity of choice. “... a long life, well-lived and a peaceful death...What more could one ask?”

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 14, 2013