Percy Paul Roberts

Obituary

Passed on

Close in our hearts you will always stay Loved and remembered every day.

Percy Paul Roberts passed on July 11, 2024 at the Stonewall Hospital. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Irene, of 72 years, dear daughter Bonnie Ellen, son-in-law John Warszycki and granddaughter Laura Anne…“Grampa’s Pet” the love of Grampa’s life!, their extra daughter, Sharon Scott and friend Audrey Rak, brother, Robert (Pat), and sisters-in-law Karen and Margret, as well as his nieces, nephews and their families, the extra children who lived with them over the years, especially, Darlene (Koralewicz) Irwin, Heather (Roberts) Hamaberg, Michael Walsh, and Roy (Darlene and their children Brandon and Austin) Longley.

Percy was predeceased by his son, Tom, daughter, Joan, parents, Tom and Ada Roberts, sisters Ruth Nelson and Alma Lobban, brothers, Owen, Arthur, Edward and David, brothers-in-law Albert Nelson and Les Lobban and sister-in-law Joan Roberts. The extra children who lived with them, Bill Hyde and Victor Colonville.

Born in Lundar in 1932, the third child of Tom and Ada Roberts of Markland district, Percy attended school at Markland, McMillan and Inwood moving back to the farm at Markland in 1945.

Percy tackled every type of job at home, as well as for neighbours, to add to the family income, as his Dad died in 1947. He became a hunter, shooting his first deer at 13 years…as well as partridges and geese. He enjoyed hunting and fishing all his life, but his real love was dancing with Irene, to that good Old Time Fiddle, since they were teenagers.

In 1951 Percy started working, in Winnipeg, for the C. P. Rail in the Car dept, Traffic Yard West End as an Airman, working nights from 11 to 7, and approximately 15 years later moved to the Piggyback Terminal, working evenings from 3 to 11. At work Percy was nicknamed “Mother”. A severe heart attack ended his work career of 35 years.

In 1952 he married the love of his life, Irene Irwin. Although they spent a wonderful life together, they also faced many hard times and illnesses along the way, but those were nothing compared to losing their children Tom and Joan.

After retiring, they moved to an acreage near Balmoral, where they enjoyed wonderful neighbours, bowling friends and, of course, their Pattern Dancing friends. Percy learned to play the fiddle after retiring. Percy was a fixer! He could repair most anything and was often heard to say, “Why buy, when it can be fixed!”

In 2015, after a serious illness, they moved to the town of Stonewall. Where, year after year, he took pride in growing his tomatoes. Percy had a warm smile, a ready handshake or a big hug for everyone. He will be missed.

At a later date, a private interment will take place in the St James Cemetery, Winnipeg.

Percy liked poetry and this was one of his favorites!

When I Cash In

When I cash in I would like to go, Where the geese fly low and the bucks run slow, Where the fishing is good, Anytime of the year, And you don’t need all, That expensive gear! Where the weather is nice, The whole year round, With about two months, Where there is snow on the ground, No vicious storms, no droughts, no tornadoes, A good summer for growing tomatoes –Author unknown

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