Andy McRae

It is with profound sadness that his daughters announce that Andy, 93 of St. Francois Xavier passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at the Portage la Prairie Hospital surrounded by them and their families.

Andy was born on October 23, 1932 to parents Mina and Bill McRae and had seven siblings. Andy spent the first part of his young life between living in Marquette, Manitoba and St. Catherines, Ontario. Andy was one of the few English-speaking children attending an all-French school and was fluent in French until his passing.

Andy married Yvonne Pascoe on July 2, 1955 and was lucky to have celebrated 61 years together before her passing.

Andy retired as a Glazier for the Winnipeg School Division, but had an apprenticeship in interior decorating and worked in private homes. He loved camping, fishing, motorcycling, water skiing and snowmobiling, passing on those passions to his daughters. Other hobbies would include CB radios and later Ham radio as we practiced morse code together.

Andy was very sociable and loved people and together we spent many happy summer and winter vacations travelling to British Columbia, Florida, Ottawa, Expo 67 and Hawaii to name a few. Hawaii was one of Mom and Dad’s favourite places and they shared many trips with friends and family. We also as a family enjoyed going to the Big White Shell and then later to our family cabin on Canyon Lake in McIntosh, Ontario.

Dad with his outgoing personality became friends with Sunnyside and Fairholme Hutterite Colonies. It was through those years and all of Dad’s passions that many life long friends were brought into our lives.

Dad could fix anything whether it was a toaster or an appliance, vehicles, plumbing, electrical, drywalling and was handy renovating his daughter’s homes. Dad was generous with his blessed talents and enjoyed sharing those blessings with family and friends. Heck he would snow blow almost all of our neighbours within a city block. That also extended into lending any of his acquired equipment that others were not as fortunate to own.

Dad was very supportive and protective of his family and actually old fashioned when it came to his daughters. Dad had a giving heart and opened his home to his mother-in-law, brother-in-law and son-in-law in their illnesses, and helped with monetary expenses of chemo and other bills. He was generous to a fault and that would take him on many adventures.

Andy is survived by his two daughters Cindy (Rob) McRae of St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba and Kally (Bruce) Werven of Cavalier, North Dakota; grandchildren Christopher (Talia) Dorsch of Warren, Manitoba, Drew (Madison) Werven and Tanner (Haylee) Werven all of Cavalier, North Dakota; great-grandchildren Belle, Layla, Reese, Rowyn and Ivy; sister Bernice Bremner of Stonewall, Manitoba and brother Archie (Edna) McRae of Marquette, Manitoba. Although Andy only had two daughters, Valerie Beel and her children Patrick and Kally Beel-Chaves were his extended family who were loved as being his own.

Andy was predeceased by his wife Yvonne, parents Mina and Bill, sisters Mildred Dolan, Jeannine Pascoe, brothers Bud, Ken and Johnny.

Although with great love there is also great sorrow, it comforts us to know that Dad is now with Mom.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 1:00 o’clock at his daughter’s residence at 120 Desjardin Road, St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba. The family looks forward to sharing stories and memories and on keeping with Andy's wishes sharing refreshments and a drink or two.