Scott Schinkel

It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our son, brother, uncle, and grandson on February 9, 2013.

Scott is survived by mother Edithe Pinette, brother Keith (Armelle), cherished nephew Jeremie and niece Annika, grandmother Frances Rasmussen, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. Scott was predeceased by his father Barry.

Scott had a way with people. Whether his family or one of his many friends, he made people feel cared for. No matter if he was at home, on the ultimate field, or at work, he was always ready to give a big hug or provide support. His warmth, intelligence, wit and enthusiasm for life will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 17 at 2:00 p.m. at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home. 1291 McGillivray Boulevard,with reception to follow. A private family interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation: 200-6 Donald Street, Winnipeg Manitoba. R3L 0K6

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Eulogy – Scott Schinkel

Scott was like the sun when it warms your skin on a sunny day. He was always that way: a bright, funny, caring, spit fire with red hair, full of energy and enthusiasm.

His big heart and boisterous personality showed itself from the very start. As a young child he could be seen up on his mémère and pépère’s couch, shaking his little bottom and belting out boogie woogie woogie woogie dancing shoes. He would be laughing, his little red head bobbing, while playing up to the crowd.

He loved to talk and cuddle and had a soft spot for those in pain. This was probably best illustrated when his beloved pépère was sick with cancer. Scott and pépère had a special bond and it is probably from his pépère that he got his playful teasing ways. Pépère always said that Scott “sure could talk” and enjoyed his grandson’s visits. When Scott came around a little smile would cross his grandfather’s face because pépère knew that as soon as Scott started telling his little stories something funny was sure to be said. When his beloved pépère was sick and forced to remain in bed little Scott, or little Fred as he was called after his grandfather, would be found on pépère’s bed talking, and talking, and talking, sensing somehow that he was bringing comfort.

Scott had a special partner in crime, someone who right from the very start had a master plan to show him the world. When Scott was only a few weeks old Edithe went into his room only to find Keith in the crib with his little brother in his arms preparing to scale the bars. An auspicious start if ever there was one. The boys were more than brothers they were like two sides of the same coin. Scott was fond of saying that Keith was the ring master, that it was on Keith’s insistence that their games included such classics as “let’s jump from the top bunk”, “catch my boot with your face”, and a particular favourite “let’s take a spin in the dryer”; a game that always caused their mother consternation because she could never figure out why the dryer was always broken. The truth was they were co-conspirators always planning the next big adventure, and the adventures continued right into adulthood.

Wherever Scott went he made friends and lots of them. If you met Scott, and talked to Scott, you probably liked him, and if you talked to him enough you probably loved him. His big smile and enthusiasm were infectious and he had a way of making everyone feel welcome to join the party. No where was this more apparent than on the ultimate field. There he was known as Big Daddy, a nickname he gave himself and one that stuck. It was while playing the sport he loved that Scott made some of his best friends. Whether he was planning shenanigans for some tournament or drinking a pitcher of beer after a game Scott relished his time with his team mates.

If any of you partied with Scott you would know that when Mohammad Ali famously alluded to floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee he was most likely referring to Scott on the dance floor. Scott was a dancing machine with a wide array of moves: the sprinkler, the shopping cart, the running man, old style b boy tricks, and a special move that one of his aunts dubbed the back to front hump. Yes Scott danced in the same way he did everything in life, with style, grace, and a dash of humour.

Big Daddy was a self admitted mamma’s boy and though he was often critical of her driving skills he adored her. It was from Edithe that Scott got his soft heart, his ability to listen to others in a way that made them feel accepted and loved. And like his mother people were drawn to him, pulled in by his warmth and compassion, often comforted by his embrace.

If he got his heart from his mom Scott got his sociability from his dad. As a family friend recently remarked, “Scott and Barry were exactly alike, if you put either of them in a room full of strangers within five minutes they would be invited home for supper.” Like his dad Scott liked to talk, and discuss, and sometimes even to argue. A voracious reader Scott could talk about anything, sports, music, politics, philosophy, and could probably convince you that black was white, the sun was the moon, and that yes indeed, he was your daddy. And even if he failed to persuade you he would just smile his wry little smile and offer to buy you a beer.

“All women are crazy!” Scott would often say with a smirk on his face, well all of them except for two, his mother and his sister-in-law Armelle. Armelle was often caught in one of Scott’s bear hugs. Scott thought the world of her and would constantly tell his brother “she’s a keeper” and would admonish Keith telling him to keep his “Schinkel” in check so as not to scare her away.

As stated many times today, Scott had many friends. What hasn’t been mentioned is that very few of them have real names. There’s Oats, and Pizza Boy, and AKWAK, and Chunks, and Snakes, and Kernel, and Money, and Sav, and Big Kenny just to name a few. A motley crew for sure but that was Scott, he accepted everyone as they were. In this bunch there was one with whom Scott had a close sense of kinship, his ranch mate Ryan. The two of them had many misadventures. Whether it was Scott trying to teach Ryan to swim in Mexico, an unsuccessful attempt, or the two of them cruising for ladies, sometimes successful sometimes not, or supporting each other after the death of their parents, they always had each other’s backs. As Scott often said Ryan was his brother from another mother.

Of all his family and many friends Scott’s heart belonged to two, his nephew Jérémie and his niece Annika. He spoke of them constantly, to everyone, bragging about how beautiful they were, how smart, how well behaved. As many could attest he talked about them as though they were his own. A visit from oncle Scott invariable involved Jérémie asking to play on Scott’s iphone and Scott, ever the tease, would make Jérémie wait saying “Attend, attend”. Finally, when Jérémie was just about bursting Scott would relent and they would place themselves on the sofa, Jérémie snuggling comfortably into his oncle, and Scott with a big smile on his face. Annika too succumbed to her uncle’s charms, batting her big blue eyes at him and taking her place next to her brother on her uncle’s lap, the three of them huddled over the glow of the phone with Scott as content as could be.

The magnitude and suddenness of Scott’s death was best described by Jérémie, who, upon hearing of his uncle’s passing said simply “Déjà?”, “So soon?” Scott’s light shone brightly, freely embracing all those he came in contact with. Like the warm blush that remains on your skin after the sun sets on a beautiful summer’s day, let Scott’s warmth remain with you. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.