Alfred George Denny passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at Fairview Personal Care Home in Brandon.
Born July 10, 1942, in Neepawa to Ellen and Ray Denny, Alf spent his early years growing up on the family farm in the RM of McCreary. He was an only child, but he had the great fortune to be surrounded by the warmth of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, all living in the same rural area. He took his education at Turtle Plains School, which was a typical one room schoolhouse on the prairie.
Alf wasn’t a great scholar, so around age 15, he began his working life. It wasn’t very long before this love of driving anything on four wheels started. It began with farm vehicles, and quickly moved on to fast cars in his teen years, usually with bald tires and often written off, due to an accident.
Alf had many different jobs in his lifetime. He often shared that as a teenager, he learned to use a CAT to clear bush and build roads in the McCreary area. He worked at Graham and Martin building machinery, Tim’s Transfer, both in Brandon, tour bus companies in Alberta and finally driving semis at Paul’s Hauling in Brandon. He joined the million-mile club while at Paul’s, but that was only a fraction of the miles he drove during his working life.
Alf’s love of vehicles led to his hobby of owning a classic car. His baby was a 1967 Meteor Montcalm. He was joined in this passion, by his buddy Mervin Mulligan. The two of them spent hours working on their cars, often rebuilding a motor over the winter, so they’d be ready for car shows come spring. Many enjoyable miles were had driving to shows in Manitoba and North Dakota, plus local fair parades.
Alf was a kind and generous man, with a wicked sense of humour, and a loving heart. He made friends wherever he went, and always took the time to reach out to them regularly, no matter how far away they lived. He was a wonderful communicator.
But most of all, Alf was a loving husband and father. He will be forever missed. Alf is remembered by his wife Diane, son Brent (Corrine) Blaine, daughter Shauna Semenowich (Matt Webber), daughter Sharla (Alex) Cerezo, stepdaughter Tricia (Robert) Greenwood, stepdaughter Jennifer (Ward) Greer and stepson Sean (Amanda) MacDonald.
Alf also leaves nine grandchildren: Cooper Blaine, Langley Blaine, Silver Semenowich, Landon Mann, Anastashia Cerezo, Akina Cerezo, Emma Greenwood, Kirstin Greer, and Willam Greer.
Alf’s family wishes to extend our gratitude to the Doctors and Nurses for the exceptional care that Alf received during his stay at the Centre for Geriatric Psychiatry, and Fairview Personal Care Home. There are not enough words to adequately convey the gratitude we feel for your compassion and kindness.
The Celebration of Alf’s Life will take place at Memories Chapel, 330 – 18th Street North, Brandon on Monday, May 1, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Donations in memory of Alf may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba – Westman Office, Unit 4B – 457 9th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 1K2
Weep not for me though I am gone into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will but not for long upon my soul’s sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest. There is no need to tears.
For with your love I was blessed for all those many years.
There is no pain. I suffer not. The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts.
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath remember not the strife.
Please do not dwell upon my death but celebrate my life.
Constance Jenkins