Howard NIXON

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NIXON: Howard Nelson Nixon passed away peacefully on March 15, 2017 at the Russell District Health Centre at the age of 99. Howard was born on December 20, 1917 to Nelson and Clara Nixon at Margaret, Manitoba. He spent his youth and teen years attending school and farming alongside his father. On May 20, 1942, Howard married his life partner Eva Rogers and shortly thereafter enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Howard and Eva spent time in Souris for training and ended up in Ottawa where they remained until the end of the war in 1945. They returned to his grandfather’s farm in Margaret where Howard began farming again, one of his true passions in life. Howard was happy to be carrying on the farming tradition on the original Nixon homestead and welcomed friends and relatives to a 100th Anniversary of the Nixon farm in 1981. He was a very proud farmer and carried on his lifework until he was 80 when he and Eva decided it was time to “retire”. They remained on the farm for the spring, summer and fall and spent many winters in Brandon. During the retirement years they enjoyed watching curling events, and travelling to watch all of their grandchildren participate in their activities. Soon after celebrating 69 years of marriage, Eva passed away and Howard moved into the Riverheights Terrace until the fall of 2015. He continued to drive to the farm many times often mowing the grass or cleaning out the eaves troughs until his 98th year. In 2016 Howard moved to the Rossburn Personal Care Home, Rossburn, Manitoba to be closer to his family where he enjoyed drives to see how the crops were progressing and regular cribbage games with his family. Howard was very active in the community. He served Margaret in just about every capacity there was rink board, school board, Pool Elevators board, Kings United Church in several capacities, was a long time councillor and Deputy Reeve for the Riverside Municipality, a lifetime member of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities (UMM) and was especially proud of his appointment and work done while on the Surface Rights Board. During his time on the municipality, the Surface Rights and UMM, Howard and Eva had the opportunities to make many life-long friends in Manitoba and beyond. Howard was predeceased by his wife Eva, son Alan, and infant son Billy. Also by both of his parents, sister Effie, sister Evelyn and brother Bobbie as well as other sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Left to cherish his memory are his son Gordon and daughter-in-law Joan of Russell; daughter Jean and son-in-law Leo of Regina; six very special grandchildren Terri (Nixon) and her husband Ron Johnson, Kyle Nixon, Brock Nixon, Mitch MacDonald, Geoff MacDonald, and Stephanie MacDonald. Two great-grandchildren Liberty and Maverick Johnson. Howard is also survived by his sister Elva McDonald, sister-in-law Betty Ferris, brother-in-law Cam Fordyce as well as many special nieces and nephews from the Nixon and Rogers side. There will be a celebration of Howard’s life on Saturday March 25 at 1:30 at the Minto United Church, Minto, MB. Interment will follow at the Minto Cemetery. Rest in Peace Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa you had a long and wonderful life and we will miss you.Messages of condolence can be made online at www.wheatlandfs.comWheatland Funeral Service204-523-7791

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 25, 2017