TERENCE MALCOLM BROWNLEE

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TERENCE MALCOLM BROWNLEE

Terry passed away peacefully in his own home on Sunday April 28 with his wife Heather by his side, holding his hand.

Terry is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 25 years, Heather Anderson. He will be remembered with love by his three children: Scott (Janice; Megan and Jack), Diane; and Joanne (Eric; Noelle (Dash) and Arty). He will be missed by his twin sister Ardythe McMaster; his sister Nan Last (Fred); his brothers David (Francie) and Clark (Joan). He will also be fondly remembered by Heather’s children: Hollie (Manon) and Joel (Marla; Johanna and Olivia). He was predeceased by his parents Gladys and Robert Brownlee and his brother-in-law Don McMaster.

Terry was born on March 26, 1937, in Souris MB. He always delighted in telling people that it was Good Friday. He was a bit of a surprise as his mother wasn’t aware that she was expecting twins. The neighbours rose to the occasion by finding another crib and all the things that would be needed for the “wee boy”.

Terry grew up in a loving family on Drumduan farm in the region of Beresford. It was a home where he learned the importance of hard work and seeing a job through to the finish. There were lots of happy memories from his childhood, one being when his dad would bring home a brick of ice cream on a Saturday night and the family would share this special treat. He never lost his love of the land, always commenting on the many fields we would pass on our trips to and from the cottage. His mother was a naturalist who instilled a love of nature in all of her children. He set up a bird feeding station in our backyard each fall and took great pleasure in watching the birds. He gardened with great enthusiasm and always aimed to have the best lawn on the street.

Terry’s career was with Transport Canada where he worked for 36 years. He retired in 1992 as an Air Traffic Control Supervisor in Winnipeg Tower. He absolutely loved his job! Even after his retirement he always watched the skies - identifying planes, watching contrails, and announcing which runway was in use by the direction in which the planes were taking off. He was trained in meteorology and was very good at predicting the weather.

Terry was a “people person”. He enjoyed helping and teaching others. He was reliable, friendly, and always ready to step up and help. He was involved with Crestview United Church for many years as a member of the Board and he sang in the choir. One of his proudest accomplishments was being involved in the rebuilding of the pipe organ that came to the church in pieces. He also helped initiate a Beaver Group in the Westwood Area and served as District Commissioner from 1974-1977.

In 1986 he joined the Winnipeg Male Chorus and sang with them for 30 years. He held many Board positions with the Chorus including being President twice. Every spring, Terry would meticulously plan a tour for the Chorus to go out on a weekend trip to entertain in rural Manitoba. He loved the camaraderie of the Chorus and made many close friends over the years. His contributions were recognized with an honorary life membership in the Winnipeg Male Chorus.

Terry was also one of the original Goldwing Ambassadors at Richardson International Airport. He served in this position for more than 20 years. He helped train new volunteers coming on board and also mentored and taught high school students who volunteer for the Silverwing program. He took great pride in being able arrange tours to the Air Traffic Control Tower to allow people to view the airport from a different perspective.

Terry was, by his own admission, never an athlete but he did love curling. He was very active at the Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club where he curled twice a week. Over the years, he held many positions on the Board and was President for the 2008-09 season.

Very dear to Terry’s heart was Fort Whyte Alive, where he was an active volunteer for the last 40 years. He participated at many events over that time including school tours and public walks. He especially enjoyed doing tours for English Alternative Language (EAL) groups. It was at Fort Whyte that he met his future wife Heather, and they spent many happy hours volunteering together. Their love story was highlighted in the book “Human Nature: The Fort Whyte Story”.

There was nothing complicated about Terry, he was simply “a good man”. He was a gentle and calm person, a man who took the time to rescue dragonflies from spider webs. He is someone who will be remembered for his kindness. He will be missed by many.

I would like to thank all those who have been by my side through these last few months. First his children, his siblings, my children, friends and neighbours, the doctors and nurses who have taken care of him. The support given to us has been overwhelming and has helped us through this journey.

In keeping with Terry’s wishes, no formal service will be held. There will be a private family scattering of his ashes.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Terry’s memory may be made to Fort Whyte Alive.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 11, 2024, May 11, 2024