Len Nelson

Leonard Allan "Len" Nelson

It is with great sadness that we announce this tragic passing of Leonard Allan Nelson on Friday, November 26, 2010. Len leaves to mourn, his wife of 29 years Barb; children Kathy (Brian) Kaspick, Allan (Monica) Nelson, Roy (Sherrill) Nelson, Terry (Michele) Nelson and Cheryl Nelson; "adopted" daughter Brittany Kennedy; 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings Jo-anne (Lorne) Thomas, Ruth (Pete) Brousseau and Jack (Judy) and their families; mother-in-law Helen and father-in-law Allan McLennan and brother-in-law Leslie (Jackie) McLennan along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Katherine and Joseph, sister Emma and granddaughter Kim.

Len was born March 23, 1940 in Inwood, Manitoba. He was the second of five, behind his sister Joan and ahead of his sisters Ruth and Emma and brother Jack. Len lived life to the fullest with no reservation, gaining many experiences and friends along the way. One of Len's true loves was trucking, he spent the last 50 years traveling all across North America driving for many different companies such as George Smith, Gardwine, Concord, TransX, Lark and many others. He spent his final months hauling scrap metal for Sam Gerrard. It didn't seem to matter where he was, he was always making new friends along the way.

Dad had great joy in his family and his work. He really enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dad and Barb spent many happy years in the truck together traveling all over North America. Some of their fondest memories in the last few years were their many trips to Nogalis Arizona and Larado Texas, especially in the winter. For the past few months you could always count on seeing Len at the Shell every weekend for breakfast, in the afternoons he spent his time out at the west end Tim Hortons and in the summer he spent his evenings at the down town Tim Hortons sitting on the tail gate of a near by half ton catching up on the latest town news.

At his untimely passing, dad was planning on spending the winter trucking on the winter ice roads then preparing to slow down a little with a small chip truck for him and Barb to work at in the summer. Unfortunately, their dream never came to be. Len was full of knowledge and information. Anything you could possibly need to know, all you had to do was ask him, especially when it came to directions to pretty much anywhere.

He was an outstanding husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and companion to all. You will be missed dearly, loved always and never forgotten.

Memorial Service will be held at the Gainsborough Community Club, 61156 PR 240, Southport, on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 3:00 pm led by Rev. Harry Friesen of Glenboro.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Len's memory to Canadian Diabetes Association, 200 - 310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S6.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel 857-4021 A message can be left in the on-line guest book at www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com