W. Leo Johnson

Wilfred Leo Johnson

September 27, 1924 to May 23, 2018

The family is sad to announce that Wilfred Leo Johnson of Selkirk, MB passed away peacefully at the age of 93 with family at his side, at the Arborg and District Health Centre on May 23, 2018.

Leo was predeceased by his wife Laura (2010); parents Thorvaldur and Ingibjorg; sisters Nena Bryan, Jona Mowczan and Bjorg Harris and grandson Christopher Johnson.

The son of Thorvaldur and Ingibjorg Johnson, Leo was born September 27, 1924 and raised on McLean Avenue in Selkirk MB. World War II was raging in Europe and after high school, at the young age of 17, Leo enlisted for duty with the Royal Canadian Navy. After training in Esquimalt, BC, he was deployed to Port Arthur to take up duty on a new mine sweeper, the HMCS Blairmore. Leo was part of the sea trials and commissioning crew and served on the HMCS Blairmore for approximately 14 months. Leo next served on the Corvette, HMCS Orangeville, and was a member of the commissioning crew for the ship built in Leith, Scotland. Leo spent the rest of the war aboard the Orangeville.

Leo met his future wife, Laura Atkinson, on a blind date set up by his sister Bjorg and her husband Wally. Leo and Laura were married on April 27, 1946 with the ceremony held in the living room of Laura’s family home on Canora Street in Winnipeg and where they lived continuously for their entire married life (64+ years).

Leo had a long career with the Winnipeg Transit System, retiring at age 62 as Superintendent of Customer Services.

For six plus decades Dad loved to spend time at the family cottage in Matlock, MB, where he especially enjoyed reforesting the property with dozens of carefully selected trees and shrubs. Dad was a curler, a stamp collector, a gardener, an art collector and a supporter of numerous charitable organizations including many local and foreign causes.

Leo was a proud member of the Winnipeg White Ensign Club, a branch of the Royal Canadian Naval Association, and greatly enjoyed the friendship of his fellow naval veterans. Dad was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Selkirk Branch 042.

In 2013 Dad relocated to his home town of Selkirk, MB where he reconnected with numerous old friends and made many more new friends.

Dad is survived by his four children, Nancy Masson of Teulon, Ed (Maureen) of Calgary, Brian (Sherry) of Sydney, Australia, Tim (Robin) of Winnipeg; and grandchildren Clayton (Erin), Laura Lee (Tom), Andrea, Quentin, Drew, Stephen and Sarah. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Dakota, Faith, Ashton, Aisha, Richard, Grayson, Kiera and Carter.

The family would like give heartfelt thanks Dr. Mann and the entire staff of the Arborg and District Health Centre for their exceptional and compassionate care and support during Dad’s time there. Your caring is deeply appreciated.

As per Dad’s wishes, no service will be held. A private interment will follow at a later date.

If friends so desire, donations in Leo’s memory may be made to a charity of your choosing.

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