Ronald D. Wells passed peacefully in his sleep at St. Boniface Palliative Care on April 23, 2018.

He was predeceased by his father, William Wells, mother Norah Wells, brother Bill Wells, brother-in-law Don Armishaw, sister-in-law Connie Prater, mother-in-law Edna Ewen, and great-grandson Mason Paquette.

He is survived by his wife of seventeen glorious years, Anolda Wells; sons David (Zakya), Chris (Kayla); daughters Angela Woodgate (Rob), Teena Peterson (Mike), and Claudette Woodgate (Joel); fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandsons; sister Marsha Armishaw; brother-in-laws Elden Ewen (Norma), Glen Ewen (Louise), Wayne Ewen (Carrie); sister-in-laws Lillian Medwechuk, Louise Ewen (Joey), and Arlette Carrier (George).

A funeral will be held at 1 pm on Monday, May 7, 2018 at St. John XXIII Roman Catholic Church, 3390 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg. Internment of ashes to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 88 Hespeler Avenue, Winnipeg.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Boniface Hospital Congestive Heart Failure Clinic.

 

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Ron was a man who enjoyed traveling and searching for the history of places. His first experience in travel, at the young age of eleven, was when his family was stationed in Germany with the Canadian Armed Services; his father was a firefighter.  They traveled Europe, England, and Ireland to visit extended family.  He returned to Ireland as a young adult, which is where his passion for genealogy started. He then started traveling Canada and the United States with family in tow for vacations and genealogy.  

He lived in various small towns in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario and held a variety of jobs.  The two that he spoke fondly of were the photography shop he owned in Neepawa, Manitoba, and the custodial position he held for the Kenora Patricia District School Board. 

Ron held the position of president of his local CUPE, working until his retirement in April 2005 due to his health.  He was a member of the Dryden Kinsmen Club for three years.  His greatest passion was his membership in the Knights of Columbus.  He belonged to many different councils, and held the position of Grand Knight for the St. Joseph’s Council in Dryden from 2009-2012. It was at this time that he became a 4th Degree Knight.  

His faith, humour, love for family, and his greatest love of all, his grandchildren, are what carried him through the last years of his journey here on Earth.

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What to say about my dad... He was the strongest man I’ve ever known, he was the most important man in my life. He’d been through so much and always had a positive attitude and a great spirit. He loved all his children and family especially the small ones nothing could make him smile like children could.

 

He loved being outside and enjoying nature, I remember many summers spent camping, either in the big family tent, or the camper being hauled across Canada on the back of the truck. Always looking for a campground with a pool because dad knew how much Chris and I loved to swim. Even just weekends spent at Ojibway park when we couldn’t travel far, he was never one to sit inside. He loved fishing: some of my earliest memories are of fishing in the boat with Dad and going up to the family cabin with Grandpa and Uncle Bill. I remember a summer that a tree fell on the porch and Dad, Grandpa and Uncle Bill took us all to the cabin by boat and had to repair the porch by hand out in the middle of the bush with limited supplies, but that didn’t stop them.

 

Even in the winter, there was a snow machine that Dad would take us out for or let us take. One time, Chris and I decided to take it to Hudson and it broke down. Me and Chris started walking until Dad came on a borrowed sled worried sick and found us.

 

I remember the day Dad asked me to be the best man when he married his wife, Anolda, and how happy he was on that day. I came down from Winnipeg for the wedding and met all the extended family and saw the way he impacted their lives and the joy they gave him.

 

After Dad started having heart problems, they moved into the city, once again a pool was a must because now grand-kids loved swimming. Dad still wanted to get out and we went golfing many a time,

 

I remember taking my daughter, Haley, with us, and she tried to drive the golf cart off the walking bridge over a creek! Dad had such a good laugh at that.

 

But he loved nature more than the city, and bought a trailer outside of the city where they spent most summers. We would visit them there and the grand-kids loved spending time with their Papa playing at the park, swimming in the pool, or driving around in the golf cart. He’d even let them drive, which was always the highlight of the trip. They loved their Papa and he loved them.

 

Family was important to Dad, and he tried to get family meals together as often as possible. It was great to finally have everyone together again for Easter from everywhere to celebrate the holiday and togetherness. I could go on and on and on but I can’t. I’ll leave it at this:

 

Dad, you’ve made a huge impact on this world. You were a big man. You loved big, you lived big, and you’ll always be remembered by those that knew you. I love you, Dad, and I always will. I miss you.

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Rest In Peace, Dad. You’ve earned it, and can join your loved ones and family in Heaven now.