Obituary for Daniel Lim
Daniel Lim, age 94 years. The beloved husband of Mee Ping Lim passed on Monday, April 27, 2020 at Fairview Home in Brandon.
Daniel was born on March 5, 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to a Ukrainian mother and Chinese father, Mary Skiba and Lim Wong. Following the passing of their mother, at age four Daniel and his two younger siblings were taken by their father to China where they were raised.
Growing up in Canton, China, Daniel was referred to as the “white boy” or the “tall boy” by his classmates. Daniel became the student president of his high school, to which he donated annually until his passing. During the Japanese occupation of China in World War II, Daniel was captured by Japanese Imperial Army. The soldiers believed Daniel was an American spy because of his fair features. Daniel used his quick wit and skills to prove to his captors that he was in fact the Chinese farmer that he claimed to be. Finally, he was released.
Following WWII, Daniel and his brother Walter made the journey back to Canada in 1947. While his brother attended school, Daniel went to work with his father in the restaurant business. They were owners and co-owners of several restaurants in Brandon including the Key Café and Olympia Café.
In 1956, Daniel travelled to Hong Kong to meet his future wife Mee Ping. They were married in Hong Kong on February 11, 1956 and returned to Brandon in April of the same year. They shared many happy years together raising a family. Summers were filled with trips to visit his sister Jenny in Winnipeg’s Chinatown and his brother Walter in Toronto. Daniel continued to work as a chef at the Brandon General Hospital, Belair Restaurant, the Brandon Hotel and Rodos Restaurant. For Christmas, Daniel would make his signature roast turkey and amazing stuffing recipe which has continued to be a Lim family tradition.
Daniel was an extremely generous man, well respected in the Chinese community and had a positive influence on everyone who crossed his path. Most of all, Daniel truly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. During his retirement, Daniel looked forward to coffee every morning with his buddies at the Town Centre. Sundays were very special as he and his friends would gather at McDonald’s and in the evening Daniel and Mee Ping hosted weekly family suppers. Daniel proudly sat at the head of the table with his wife, children and grandchildren gathered for a traditional Chinese meal. Since he never had an opportunity to attend school in Canada, Daniel encouraged his children and grandchildren to embrace education. In doing so, he believed they would have a better life and make a positive difference in their communities. Daniel’s legacy lives on with his family.
Daniel will be lovingly remembered by his wife Mee Ping Lim; children Lily O’Driscoll, Dave (Keiko) Lim and Joyce Lim; grandchildren Erin (Billy) Martens, Chantel and Kobe Lim, and great-grandchildren Shirley and Florence Martens.
A Private Celebration of Daniel’s Life for family and friends will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Memories Chapel – to view the service remotely a link will appear approximately 10 minutes prior to the service on Daniel’s memorial page at www.memorieschapel.com. Donations in memory of Daniel may be made to Brandon’s Food for Thought, 637 10th Street, Brandon MB, R7A 4G6 or at brandonsfoodforthought.com.
Daniel was born on March 5, 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to a Ukrainian mother and Chinese father, Mary Skiba and Lim Wong. Following the passing of their mother, at age four Daniel and his two younger siblings were taken by their father to China where they were raised.
Growing up in Canton, China, Daniel was referred to as the “white boy” or the “tall boy” by his classmates. Daniel became the student president of his high school, to which he donated annually until his passing. During the Japanese occupation of China in World War II, Daniel was captured by Japanese Imperial Army. The soldiers believed Daniel was an American spy because of his fair features. Daniel used his quick wit and skills to prove to his captors that he was in fact the Chinese farmer that he claimed to be. Finally, he was released.
Following WWII, Daniel and his brother Walter made the journey back to Canada in 1947. While his brother attended school, Daniel went to work with his father in the restaurant business. They were owners and co-owners of several restaurants in Brandon including the Key Café and Olympia Café.
In 1956, Daniel travelled to Hong Kong to meet his future wife Mee Ping. They were married in Hong Kong on February 11, 1956 and returned to Brandon in April of the same year. They shared many happy years together raising a family. Summers were filled with trips to visit his sister Jenny in Winnipeg’s Chinatown and his brother Walter in Toronto. Daniel continued to work as a chef at the Brandon General Hospital, Belair Restaurant, the Brandon Hotel and Rodos Restaurant. For Christmas, Daniel would make his signature roast turkey and amazing stuffing recipe which has continued to be a Lim family tradition.
Daniel was an extremely generous man, well respected in the Chinese community and had a positive influence on everyone who crossed his path. Most of all, Daniel truly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. During his retirement, Daniel looked forward to coffee every morning with his buddies at the Town Centre. Sundays were very special as he and his friends would gather at McDonald’s and in the evening Daniel and Mee Ping hosted weekly family suppers. Daniel proudly sat at the head of the table with his wife, children and grandchildren gathered for a traditional Chinese meal. Since he never had an opportunity to attend school in Canada, Daniel encouraged his children and grandchildren to embrace education. In doing so, he believed they would have a better life and make a positive difference in their communities. Daniel’s legacy lives on with his family.
Daniel will be lovingly remembered by his wife Mee Ping Lim; children Lily O’Driscoll, Dave (Keiko) Lim and Joyce Lim; grandchildren Erin (Billy) Martens, Chantel and Kobe Lim, and great-grandchildren Shirley and Florence Martens.
A Private Celebration of Daniel’s Life for family and friends will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Memories Chapel – to view the service remotely a link will appear approximately 10 minutes prior to the service on Daniel’s memorial page at www.memorieschapel.com. Donations in memory of Daniel may be made to Brandon’s Food for Thought, 637 10th Street, Brandon MB, R7A 4G6 or at brandonsfoodforthought.com.