Mark Edmondson

Mark Earl Edmondson

July 13, 1928 a�" July 28, 2010

Peacefully on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the Portage District General Hospital, Mark Edmondson, passed away with family at his side at the age of 82 years.

He was predeceased by his wife Violet Edmondson in 2005, granddaughter Kimberley Dunn, parents Margaret and Fredrick Edmondson and brothers Jim and Lorne Edmondson. Mark will be lovingly remembered by his children Myrt Sturgis of California, USA, Dave (Carol) Dunn of Winnipeg, Margaret Palmer of Southport, Irene (David) Armishaw of Stonewall; grandchildren Shannon Pirlot, Jo-anne Dalrymple, Curtis Calvert, Kristin Dunn, Leslee Sturgis, Lynnsee Sturgis, Bradley Armishaw, Cheryl Armishaw, Sean Palmer, Cory Palmer and 13 great grandchildren; brother Roy Edmondson; sister-in-law Jean Edmondson; many nieces, nephews cousins and close friends.

Dad the youngest of the fours sons of Maggie and Fred, was born on Friday the 13th in July of 1928. He had a great sense of humor, joking about that and much more and would always be up to some sort of trick during his school days at Fortier and Oakville. In his adult years he was not afraid to try just about any sort of venture (or adventure) like riding west on the rails with his buddy Cecil Patterson, gold-mining with Dar Alford, growing mushrooms, working as an elevator man in Birtle or taking care of his brother Roy's mink farming business.

Upon his father's passing, Mark returned home to work the family farm with his brother Lorne. He met and married Violet Dunn in 1963 and acquired a ready-made family of three and added one more. He loved and cared for his family and was a great respecter of the land. Dad enjoyed hunting deer or elk, socializing, story telling and listening to old tyme music. He got involved in the Oakville Community Club, a Drama Group, C.O.R. and the provincial political parties. The brothers continued working together over the years and Mark became a mixed farmer with grain, cattle and sheep until a devastating stroke left him paralyzed and in a wheel chair in 1991. It was hard on Mark to see all the machinery and livestock sold and to move into a nursing home but his wonderful sense of humor and his stubbornness help him to accept his lot in life and he made the nursing home his home and the staff part of his family. He would often say "I could be worse off a�" at least I have my voice and my tastebuds!" Mark got involved in the various activity programs (ie painting) and the Stroke Recovery Group. The farmer part of him continued to inquire about the state of the crops in the area from Darcy Miller and others that visited. Later Vi joined Mark at the Douglas Campbell Lodge for a few years and they enjoyed being together again.

We will miss him so much but we know he's with Jesus and with Vi, his mother and so many others who he's been missing. No longer is he wheelchair bound or in any sort of pain or discomfort. Though it hurts so much to say "good-bye", we'll follow his way when we parted or hung up on the phone a�" "Bye for now" and we'll be seeing you soon Dad.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 7:00 pm at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel, 56 Royal Road S, Portage la Praire. Funeral Service will be held at Knox United Church, Oakville, Manitoba on Friday, August 6, 2010 at 2:00 pm led by Pastor Bill Watson. Interment is to follow at Oakville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba a�" Portage Office, 103 Wilkinson Crescent, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1A7 or to Douglas Campbell Lodge Activities Fund, 150 a�" 9th St. SE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3T6.

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