Kenneth William Wood

Ken was born on July 25, 1937, in a farmhouse in Pickering, Ontario, to Madge and Joseph Wood. He had two brothers, Ralph and Ronnie, and during his formative years lived with his grandparents. As a teenager, Ken spent several cherished years in the care of his Aunt Kay and Uncle Joe, people who shaped the man he would become.

Ken met the love of his life, Sandra (nee Marks), at Blantyre School, and the two were married in 1959 in Scarborough, Ontario. Their partnership was one of love, shared purpose, and unwavering devotion a bond that grew stronger with every passing year and spanned 67 years. They lived in Scarborough where Laurel and Jeff were born. In 1966 Ken was transferred to Winnipeg to open the Imperial Centre on Portage Avenue and they made the move to Winnipeg, settling into their home on Jupiter Bay, where they lived together for 60 years, building a life rich in family, friendship, and community.

As a husband, Ken was steady, caring, and dependable the kind of man who showed up every day in the ways that mattered most. He and Sandra built their life together with patience, mutual respect, and a quiet devotion. As Dad, he led not through words but by example of his work ethic, kindness, willingness to help and the genuine interest he took in the lives of his children. Laurel and Jeff always knew Dad was in their corner, following their pursuits with pride and showing up with encouragement and a listening ear. It was a simple and profound kind of fatherhood, and it left a lasting mark.

Ken's enterprising spirit and love of sport both revealed themselves early. As a young boy he could often be found on the ice, playing hockey with the energy and enthusiasm that would stay with him his whole life. He was also already finding ways to earn his own pocket money picking and selling dew worms and learning the value of initiative, resourcefulness, and a little hard work. It was the beginning of a lifelong instinct for business that would serve him well. Self-taught, Ken went on to develop a deep understanding of business and the stock market entirely on his own terms a quiet testament to his curiosity, his sharp mind, and his determination to figure things out for himself.

Ken built a career in the automotive industry, rooted in hard work, integrity, and a natural gift for connecting with people. He began his career with Imperial Oil in Toronto, later serving as Manager of the Portage and Simcoe Esso centre from it’s opening. Ken and Sandra eventually went on to work side by side until retirement and owned and operated Dominion Texaco, their first venture into business ownership a milestone that reflected their courage, drive, and confidence in one another. From there they went on to manage the Bay Automotive Centre at Portage and Memorial in Winnipeg. Together they also built and operated Alline Supply, a wholesale distributor of automotive parts across Canada. It was a remarkable business legacy built on hard work, trust, and an unwavering commitment to doing things honestly and right. Throughout his career and beyond, Ken had a natural ease with numbers that those close to him came to rely on. Whether working through a business problem or simply helping someone figure something out, he had a quiet ability to cut through complexity and find the answer — quickly, calmly, and without any fuss. It was just part of who he was.

But it was not numbers alone that defined Ken it was his character. He was, above all else, a kind and gentle man. Soft-spoken and steady, he was the kind of person who never needed to fill a room with noise to make his presence felt. He had a gift for listening, a willingness to help, and a quiet determination to always go the extra mile for whoever needed him. Those who knew Ken knew that if he said he would do something, it was done.

Winnipeg became home in every sense of the word. Ken and Sandra built a rich social life in the city — making many good and lasting friends along the way. Evenings and weekends were often filled with good company, whether with neighbours on Jupiter Bay or friends from the broader community. These were the times Ken truly savoured relaxed, unhurried, and surrounded by the people he cared about. For a man who gave so much of himself through his work and his community involvement, these moments of friendship and belonging were a cherished part of the life he and Sandra built together.

Sport was not simply a pastime for Ken it was a language he spoke fluently and a gift he gave generously to everyone around him. He served as assistant coach and manager of Jeff's AAA hockey team, giving his time and energy with characteristic dedication to the players, the program, and the community around it. A lifelong Winnipeg Jets fan from the very beginning of Jets 1.0, Ken's love for the game ran deep and it never wavered. He also had a great appreciation for golf, following the sport with keen interest throughout his life. But what those closest to him will remember most is the way Grandpa showed up in the quiet moments asking questions, listening carefully, and genuinely wanting to know how everyone did. He followed Laurel and Jeff's sports with pride and devotion, and that same love and enthusiasm carried forward to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. No detail was too small, no result too minor Grandpa wanted to hear it all.

After retirement, Ken and Sandra embraced a new chapter spending twenty-two wonderful winters in Sarasota, Florida, where they built a warm and vibrant life in the sun. It was there they were able to spend time with Sandra's brother Jack and his wife Joyce, as well as a wonderful circle of friends who became like family. Ken and Sandra threw themselves into their community with the same energy and generosity they had always shown in Winnipeg serving on the Show Committee and organizing entertainment for their Florida community, bringing people together and ensuring everyone had a good time. They sold their Sarasota home in 2021, carrying with them 22 years of sunshine, friendship, and memories they treasured deeply.

Ken was not quite ready to stop contributing. In what most would call retirement, he went on to work at Harbour View Golf and Recreation Complex, bringing his characteristic warmth, reliability, and love of sport to a new community before finally retiring at the remarkable age of eighty-seven. It was a fitting chapter for a man who found purpose in showing up, being useful, and being around people.

Dad's legacy is not measured in trophies or titles, but in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, his generosity, and his quiet, steadfast devotion to the people he loved. He was a devoted husband, a proud Dad, a cherished Grandpa and Great-Grandpa, and a man his community was fortunate to have.

Beloved husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa — Ken is survived by his wife Sandra; his children Laurel Read (Stephen) and Jeff Wood; his grandchildren Bryan (Aynsley) Read, Brittany (Ben) Read, Mackenzie (Jenny) Wood, Kendra (Ian) Froese, Evan (Ava) Wood, and Brecon (Megan) Wood; and his great-grandchildren Camden, Penny, Aleah, Ruby, Hendrix, Read, Tadgh and Lennon. A legacy of love, laughter, and family is his greatest achievement and his most enduring gift.

He was preceded in death by his parents Madge and Joseph Wood and his brothers Ronnie and Ralph Wood.

WITH GRATITUDE

The family wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ken's General Practitioner, Dr. Ebun Odufuwa, whose care went beyond what any family could have hoped for. He was attentive, unhurried, and genuinely thoughtful always taking the time to sit with Ken and his family. His kindness and accessibility during a challenging time meant more than words can express.

We also wish to extend our deepest thanks to the dedicated teams at St. Boniface Hospital most especially the staff of the Emergency Department and the Department of Medicine whose professionalism and compassion during Ken's final days will never be forgotten. In the most difficult of circumstances, they treated Ken with dignity and respect and supported our family with kindness that brought great comfort.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 AM

Thompson In the Park Funeral Home and Cemetery

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Always and Forever in Our Hearts.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS

Donations in Ken's memory may be made to KidSport Manitoba or a charity of your choice, in honour of his lifelong love and dedication to family, community, and sport. Donations to KidSport Manitoba can be made online at kidsportcanada.ca/manitoba/donate/ or by contacting KidSport Manitoba at 204-925-5911 or [email protected]