David Neil English

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of David Neil English - father, grandfather and brother, who passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Seven Oaks Hospital on February 10, 2023.

Dave leaves to mourn his son Jason (Michelle) and daughter Colleen (David) grandchildren; Scott and Brooke. Dave (affectionately known as “Butch” to his siblings) also leaves to mourn; his sisters Audrey, Kay, Davetta (Jim Sheppard) and brother Wayne (Joanie), nieces and nephews.

Dave was pre-deceased by his wife Margaret (nee Pritchard) of 53 years, his parents David and Marjorie English (nee Ferris), brother-in-law George Baker and nephew Randy Baker.

Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Dave moved to Winnipeg in 1950 during the Red River flood. He started his professional career with the Department of Transport as a trained Second-Class Radio Operator at the Winnipeg Airport. He then transferred to the Canadian arctic (Resolute Bay) for 2 years.

Following his time up North, Dave ventured across “the pond” by ship, where he bought his treasured Porsche 356C and toured Europe for a year. He had a lifelong passion for photography and many slides and stories from that trip over the years!

Upon returning to Canada, Dave married in 1967 and trained as an Electronic Technologist. He spent 8 years working with Bell Canada’s Data Communications Engineering team in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg. He then spent 22 years as a Data Engineer with the Manitoba Telephone System. He watched the meteoric rise of computers from Fortran programming language and stayed with it until present day. This was the beginning of being known as a ‘computer family' in 1981, when he brought home a Commodore Vic 20, and was forever remembered for saying, in 1984, “it will be an amazing day when they can put a gigabyte of memory into a computer.” His children also got to write school papers on a nearly unknown device called the “laptop” and use a car phone well in advance of cellular!

He tried to retire but continued working as a Data Consultant with the Pan-AM Games and then on to Priority Electronics as a Technical Salesman of copper and fibre optic products for another 6 years. He never stopped helping friends and neighbours to repair their computers! He also spent his later retirement years as a Site Supervisor with Elections Canada.

During this time, Dave was also a very passionate and active member of the Masonic lodge, beginning his journey at Norwood Lodge #119, then Keystone #185. He was also a member of many other lodges over the years, taking executive roles in most, including the Board of General Purposes from 2012 to 2020. His most proud highlight was that he joined the Winnipeg DeMolay Chapter at the age of 14 (1953), and ultimately was awarded its highest distinction, the Legion of Honor. He remained an active member for 69 years until his death.

David battled many health challenges over the past few years with true resilience. In lieu of gifts, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation would be appreciated.

A service to celebrate his life will be held in May 2023.