Clive Rennie

Clive Rennie

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Clive Rennie, our Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa.  He passed peacefully after a short illness with his family by his side on September 28th, 2021.

Clive leaves to mourn his children: Karen (Jeff), Diane (Steve), Tricia (Randy), grandchildren: Kevin (Amanda), Julia, Tony (Kirsten), Stefan (Simone), Brooke, Amanda, and Danielle. He also leaves to mourn 14 great-grandchildren, his sisters-in-law Lilja (James) and Alice, brother-in-law Bud (Judy), and many good friends. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 44 years and the love of his life, Vera in 2000, and his long-term companions, Anne in 2015, and Pauline in 2019.

Clive was a very dynamic man who enjoyed people and loved the time he spent with friends and family. Although he was 86, he lived independently and enjoyed reading, exercising, and excursions with his friend Denise. Recently he enjoyed golfing with his good friends, getting together with friends from his block, fishing from time to time, and doing projects that often also helped others, like repairing a birdhouse. He loved social gatherings with the fire department, at the Legion where he was a member, at his block, or with close friends or family. He was a master storyteller, and he had a million of them, each one more interesting than the last.

Clive was born in Winnipeg in 1935 to George and Marion Rennie, their only child. He had a happy childhood living in Winnipeg for a time as well as on the family farm for a few of his formative years in Vivian Manitoba. Clive left school early and started work with CN Rail, first as an oiler, and worked his way up to dragline operator. He met his wife Vera in his early 20s and they married in 1956. Soon after, Clive went into business with his Dad, purchasing the Star Hotel in East Selkirk and moving to the Selkirk area. In the late 50s, Clive and Vera had two daughters and moved to a home in Selkirk, where they would become life-long residents. After a decade, they sold the hotel and he bought a service station, Rennie’s Sales and Service. Clive loved working with his hands, and he trained to become a certified mechanic, an occupation he enjoyed for many years. He was well known for making house calls during harvest season, often fixing combines on the field, or helping friends with the harvest till the wee hours when timelines were tight.

Soon after buying the garage, they had a third daughter, Clive and a few others formed the East Selkirk Fire Department around this time in the late 1960s. He was asked to become Chief, and he took on this role with great pride. He served as Fire Chief for over 30 years, growing and modernizing the department, and also starting the Grand Marais and Narol Fire Departments for the RM of St. Clements. He was instrumental in ensuring a well-trained department, and he was a force in creating the Mutual Aid organization for Southeast Manitoba. In his “spare time,” he drove a school bus, and after he sold the garage, he became the route coordinator for the Lord Selkirk School Division.  During this time, Clive was elected to the Selkirk Town Council, serving 3 terms for a total of 9 years starting in the 1990s.

Not long after he retired from his bus route coordinator position, Clive was urged to put his name forward for school trustee. He served the LSSD for several terms, and he enjoyed the duties of his position as trustee for well over a decade.

Over the years Clive enjoyed travel throughout North America and to Europe. He was a sportsman who loved to hunt and fish, and in his younger years, he was a gunsmith and competitive marksman. Throughout his life, he had a reputation for being a man who would drop everything to help others when needed. It would be hard to find a better man than our dad, he was the best. We will miss his stories, his smile, his laugh, and his warmth. He was a level-headed, practical guy who cared about others and made friends wherever he went. 

Rest In Peace Dad

Celebration of Life to be held Monday, October 4th at 2:00 p.m., outdoors at the East Selkirk Fire Hall. Please observe COVID protocols. Maintain a separation of at least two metres from others not in your household. Please wear a mask when indoors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Fire Fighters Burn Fund of Manitoba.

Thank you to the East Selkirk Fire Department for all you continue to do.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clive Rennie, please visit our floral store.