Kenneth Roy Simpson

My brother, Kenneth Roy Simpson, was born in Winnipeg on November 8th, 1937. He passed away on March 5, 2026. During his formative years, Ken attended St. Ann’s Catholic School on Hampton Street in St. James. At that time, educational opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities were severely limited, and one of Ken’s great disappointments was that he didn’t have a chance to continue his education further. Despite his disabilities, Ken was defined by his willingness and perseverance. He delivered the Toronto Star Weekly to the homes of his neighbourhood customers and was famous for returning exact change to customers who left their monthly payments in their mailboxes. In fact, Ken would be known as a dedicated, conscientious and hard worker for the rest of his life.

Ken loved to attend church, and on Sundays, he would not only go to the St. James Salvation Army with his family, but on his own, would attend the Ferry Road Gospel Hall. He loved to worship and to sing the great old songs: How Great Thou Art, Bringing in the Sheaves, I Come to the Garden Alone, and many more. He loved to be with people in worship, and with those who cared about him, who accepted and valued him.

When he was 19, Ken was admitted to the Manitoba Developmental Centre in Portage la Prairie. At that time, the Centre was known as the Manitoba School for Retardates. Including 4 years at the Pelican Lake Centre in Ninette, Ken was confined for a total of 23 years in institutions for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These were difficult years for Ken. It was during these years that our mother, Mary (1962), and father, Jack (1986) died. He loved our parents deeply, and they were often a focus of Ken’s conversations. During visits home, after the death of our mother, Ken was a great source of companionship and assistance for our father.

Thanks to expanding community services and to support providers willing to accept Ken for who he was, a person with strengths and limitations, like everyone else, Ken spent most of his life living in Winnipeg. Under the auspices of New Directions, Richard and Georgina, and then Don and Cindy provided a home for Ken for 25 years. Mila Restar, along with her husband Gerry and two sons, supported Ken through his remaining years. Through thick and through thin, through 3 broken hips, multiple hospitalizations, and cancer treatments, the love that Mila shared with Ken was unconditional and completely wonderful.

Ken bowled with Special Olympics for many years, and when he was younger, swam and ran track. A highlight was his participation in the Calgary National games. My brother was an avid television news hound, and was always up on the latest car accidents, crime sprees and world events. Talking with people, whether family, friend, waiter or waitress, was a joy for Ken. A source of pride was when the waiters and waitresses, and other strangers, took time to really listen to him. For that, I am nothing but grateful. For someone who was too often dismissed and diminished, their moments of attention and acknowledgement were important and meaningful acts of kindness.

Across thirty years of extended family Christmases in Brandon, Ken led the singing of his favourite Christmas carols, We Three Kings, Silent Night, Joy to the World, and more. And always, Ken was joined in full voice by Kelsey, David and Kenna. Their cherished Uncle Ken, always prepared, was never far away from pulling out his magical air trumpet, much to the delight of his nephew and nieces, and then, to the delight of his loving great niece, Audrey. Ken brought his own “Joy to the World”.

Though Ken had more than his share of challenges, he excelled as a teacher of the important things in life. For those willing to listen, he taught about what it really means to love and care about others. He taught about the importance of family and friends. He reminded us of the values that sustain societies …about the importance of treating all people as though they matter. And as Ken’s “kid brother” (his term), I can say without a second’s hesitation, that I am a better person today than I would have been without him in my life. He was simply a good man. A good human being. As his niece Kenna has said: “Everyone should be so lucky as to have an Uncle Ken in their lives”.

Kenneth Roy Simpson was predeceased by his parents Mary (nee Marie Giesbrecht) and Jack Simpson, sister, Norma Levesque, and sister-in-law, Laurel McLaughlin. He is survived by his brother, John (Laurel McLaughlin), and by his nieces, Kelsey Simpson (Kevin and Audrey Kotyk) and Kenna Simpson, and by his nephew David Simpson (Laura Lunn). He is also survived by his niece, Trinda Collister (Darren), nephew David Levesque (Shari), and by nieces, Kimberly and Jennifer Levesque, as well as their children.

Our gratitude is extended to all those at Victoria General Hospital who treated Ken with kindness and compassion during difficult times. Gratitude is also extended to Ken’s many concerned visitors; to friends and staff members from Community Venture; to caring support providers from New Directions, and to his church family from Weetamah.

Donations can be made in Ken’s name to Community Living Manitoba at #6-120 Maryland Street, Winnipeg, MB R3G 1L1, or to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation at 675 McDermot Avenue, Room ON1016, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9.

If you so choose, you can honour Ken through your daily kindness, and by the patience and understanding that you show in your interactions with all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can honour Ken as he would want to be honoured, by treating all people who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities with dignity and respect.

A funeral service will be held at Green Acres Funeral Home and Cemetery on Wednesday, March 18 at 2:00 PM. Green Acres is located at 1 Green Acres Lane, Navin, MB. Hwy #1 East at Navin Road.