David Leisle

On Saturday January 4th our husband, father, grandfather and uncle David (Dave) Leisle passed away peacefully at the age of 90.

Born September 26th, 1934 in Winnipeg to parents Anna and Jacob, themselves German immigrants, he was the youngest of 11 siblings. He grew up on the family farm, known as Spring Couley, about 22 kilometers southeast of Morse, Saskatchewan. Initially a household of 13 people, he grew up on the prairie in a 3-bedroom Eaton’s kit house. He would walk 1.5 miles each way to the small schoolhouse and the family would travel to town by horse and sleigh in the winter months. He fondly remembered sledding into the coulee with siblings Martha, Alex and Walter on clear, moonlit winter nights.

Dave went on to study Agriculture, obtaining his Bachelor‘s (’56) and Master’s (‘58) degrees from The University of Saskatchewan and his Doctorate (‘63) from The University of Minnesota. He built his 34 year career as a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg. With a focus on durum wheat breeding and genetics, he went on to release five improved wheat cultivars. Dave published 38 papers, served as the Head of the Cereal Breeding Section from 1979-1987 and participated in various committees, both nationally and internationally. One of his cultivars, Hercules, represented the first step in improving the quality of pasta made with Canadian durum wheat. It is the official standard of quality for the Canada Amber Durum wheat class.

During his studies, he met and married his wife Beatrice in 1956, raising three daughters and one son in their family home. Married for 68 years, Dave would faithfully raise his family. The family vacationed in Hawaii, Florida, and took numerous trips across North America. As a skilled carpenter, he built a cottage in Lac du Bonnet with his family where many summers were spent boating and relaxing with his children and grandchildren. Faith was an important part of Dave’s life and he was a long-time, active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. In 2007 their son James (Jamie) passed away.

Dave will forever be remembered for his sharp mind, sense of humor and dedication to his family. Long into his retirement, Dave was still helping the family with home projects and taking the grandchildren tubing at the lake. Every Christmas he would don his elf ear hat and hand out Christmas presents, grinning ear to ear.

Dave is survived by his wife Beatrice, daughters Barb (Patti), Charlene, and Kathy (Conrad), grandchildren Brendon, Justin (Jenna), Riley (Amy) and Mikayla (Julian) and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by parents Anna and Jacob, brothers Jacob Jr., Henry, Fred, Alex and Walter, sisters Maria, Anna, Molly, Lena and Martha, and son James.

Memorial donations may be made in David’s name to Cystic Fibrosis Canada, The Canadian Cancer Society, Parkinson’s Canada, or to a charity of your choice. Flowers are gratefully declined.

A Funeral Service for David will be held Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1291 McGillivray Blvd, Winnipeg, MB.

A graveside service will follow the Funeral Service and a reception will occur thereafter.