William John Fraser

With sadness the family announces the passing of William (Bill) Fraser peacefully at dawn with family present on August 13 at Deer Lodge Centre. Bill had been admitted from a stay in Victoria Hospital. Bill was content with his time at Deer Lodge and family liked to visit and take him to the main courtyard gardens along with familiar dogs and take him to the Worship Centre once a week. His care was wonderful, and we liked seeing the other residents in such a peaceful environment.

Bill was born on June 5, 1939, In Winnipeg. He is predeceased by his parents, William (QC) and Margaret (Appleyard), his infant brother Edward, brother James and his cousins, Donald and Bob. Bill is survived by his wife Shirley and their daughters, Elizabeth (Ron) Mailhot, Heather, Susan, grandchildren, Darren and Megan and numerous nieces and nephews and paternal nephews, David and James and Cousin Patricia (Tom Barne)

Bill was a graduate from the University of Mb with a Masters in Ed. and his teaching career was in history, geography and English at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate for 33 years. He spent a year teaching at Miami Manitoba as a graduate. He was involved in Debating and Drama productions at DMCI.

As a young teacher, Bill became a member of the Manitoba Historical Society, attended Council meetings and served on the Executive in several positions. He edited the Manitoba Pageant and also chaired the Margaret McWilliams Medal Committee for several years He served as President from 1990 to 1992. He edited the MHS Newsletter Keywords and chaired the MHS museum’s Management Committee responsible for Dalnavert and Ross House. Bill also was a member of the Fort Garry Historical Society and the preservation of heritage sites in Fort Garry and St. Norbert. The MHS organized guided historic tours to heritage sites. Bill received the MHS Douglas Kemp Award in recognition of exceptional service in the promotion and preservation of Manitoba’s Heritage. We enjoyed our recent fieldtrip on Sept. 7, 2023, to Tolstoi with lunch at Else’s Hotel, a historic landmark for Tolstoi and other historical sites such as Ukrainian National Home restored by senior retirees returning to live in their old hometown.

Bill’s anchor was his faith. As a child he attended St. Aidens Anglican with his cousin Donald where both enjoyed singing from there to singing in choirs. After our marriage we joined the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd which was just down our street as a community for our family. Bill’s compass was to serve Christ in all whom he met and wherever he met them, love kindness and walk humbly and he had inherited from his father to do transactions correctly with order. Bill wrote a History of St Johns College for his thesis.

A family highlight each summer was attending Rainbow Stage musicals. Bill enjoyed live theatre and for many years we had seasons tickets to MTC. We took weekend several trips to Minneapolis for Guthre Theatre and just walking around the city. He enjoyed Fringe Festivals and Folklorama.

Bill enjoyed using the teacher summer holidays to take the family on trips across Canada and to spend time at our summer cottage on Pistol Lake Minaki. Grandchildren were included in later trips. Travel was by car using a tent Trailer, tent camping, Via Rail, Greyhound Bus and last resort flying. A favorite tent trailer place was the Gordie Howe Campground in Saskatoon while visiting relatives- camping along the West coast- flying to Nova Scotia using car rental to camp around Nova Scotia, PEI and the Cabot Trail- Fort Louisburg- Bus across USA to Disneyland, Universal

Studios, San Diego-Gimli--Disneyworld with grandchildren- Niagara Falls- Prince Rupert and Haida Qwaii and Via Rail with grandson to see the Beluga Whales and Fort Prince of Wales a National Historic site.

Funeral Service will be held at Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd at 933 Summerside Drive on September 17 at 10:00 am. Reverend Di Panting – followed by a lunch reception downstairs with a working elevator.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Spiritual Health Services at Deer Lodge Centre.