Leslie Edwin Snelling

On October 2, 2016 Les Snelling died in his 89th year in North Vancouver at Lions Gate Hospital surrounded by family. He was born Leslie Edwin Snelling in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at St. Paul’s Hospital on February 28, 1927. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his family as a very generous and loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his son Clifford Snelling and daughter-in-law Gail of North Vancouver, and his five grandsons Shaun, Ryan, Kevin, Pat and Braden and his daughter Lynn Snelling and partner Michael Reinhart. He was previously deceased by his beloved wife Eva Snelling in 2014, his brother Robert Snelling (2015) and sister Gladys Griffin (2013) and his parents Harry Snelling (1982) and his mother Katrin Snelling (1990).

Les was born in Saskatoon at St. Paul’s Hospital and grew up at “212 Saskatchewan Ave. West” where he was raised in a large extended family including his Grandmas Anderson and Snelling, his three Uncles, nine cousins, his sister and brother and his parents. He remembered his childhood home fondly as an inspiring force in his life and told many stories of growing up surrounded with love throughout good times and bad in a home filled with generations of family from both Iceland and England. After graduating as a ceramic engineer in 1950 from the University of Saskatchewan, he married Eva Snelling in December 27th of the same year and promptly moved to Hespeler, Ontario to start a new life in the east with a job at Stamped and Enamel Limited. Les was a man who dreamed big and moved towards those dreams. All decisions to move, and there were many, were mutual decisions Les and Eva made together. His son Cliff was born and in 1954 and his daughter Lin in 1958. The family then moved to Ancaster, Ontario in 1960 where Les worked at Milne Steel. In 1967 the family moved to London, Ontario where Les worked with General Steel Wares (GSW), a company that eventually became Camco under the Canadian General Electric Company (CGE). Les and Eva continued to raise their children in London Ontario and it was during this time Les often travelled to Japan to negotiate trade deals with Matsushita and was an excellent communicator and negotiator as he was able to talk business and befriend his clients. In 1978 Les and Eva moved to Brampton, Ontario where they stayed until 2005. Both their children had moved away from home and it was here that Les and Eva began their retirement. Les also began doing consulting work for DBG Canada Limited, a job he enjoyed very much. They travelled, entertained, had wonderful neighbors, and became close friends with Judy and Kevin Harris, and their two children Elizabeth and Jeremy who fondly referred to Les as “Gramps.” He was a loving grandfather and took great care to keep in touch with friends and family, always willing to help them in times of need. From their home in Brampton they visited many places including Hawaii, North Vancouver, Montreal, Denmark and Florida to name just a few. These were very good years for Eva and Les. In 2005 Les and Eva moved back home to Saskatoon and were welcomed back to their home city with open arms by both family and friends. They lived at the Palisades on 23rd Street in Saskatoon.

Les carried the very fond memories and stories of his childhood home at 212 Saskatchewan Ave. West with him throughout his lifetime. He was happy to receive guests, entertain and engage in conversation. He worked hard his whole life to take care of his family. It is very fitting that he spent his last two years in the very busy and wonderful home of his son and daughter-in-law Cliff and Gail Snelling. When his wife Eva passed away in 2014, Cliff moved his father from Saskatoon into their home in North Vancouver and the whole Snelling family took great care of him. He was surrounded once again by the bustling energy of family life and was cared for with great love and respect.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, North Vancouver, BC.