Obituary for Kenneth William "Nellie" McNeill
Kenneth William McNeill, aged 77 years of age passed away on Feb. 9th, 2022 at Brandon Regional Health Centre.
Ken was born on January 31, 1945, to Bill and Jean McNeill. He was the oldest of four children. Linda was born in 1953 followed by the twins Faye and Fern in 1955. The family lived on a farm near Woodnorth, Manitoba and Ken attended school at Two Creeks until Grade 6. Being the oldest sibling meant that when Bill and Jean were busy working it was Ken’s job to watch his little sisters. He would laugh telling the story how he used to load the twins into a wagon, tie it to his horse’s tail and walk them around the yard to keep them quiet. He also told the story of his Dad taking him to town on Saturdays. Not as a treat but to drive Bill home after a night out. When Ken was 16 years old the family made their move into Virden.
Everyone who knew Ken knew that he was a hard worker. Never absent and always went above and beyond. Ken started at S&S Mercury and on the Oil rigs as a young man. When he moved from Virden to Brandon in the late 60’s he worked at Brandon Chrysler. In 1970 he worked at the Burns plant until it closed in 1990. He then worked in Oak River at Henry’s Seed Plant followed by Bill Bootsman’s doing corral cleaning. In 1999, Maple Leaf Pork came to Brandon and with Ken’s experience he was immediately hired and work there until his retirement in 2015 at the age of 70. As you can imagine, retirement wasn’t for Ken so he and Teddy got busy cutting wood which brough a lot of enjoyment throughout his later years. He also helped out Bill Bootsman driving the big pumpkin orange truck and could always be spotted by his big smile and wave out the window. There probably weren’t too many days in his retirement that he actually didn’t work doing something.
Ken and Jean met in 1963 when Ken was only 18 years old. Must have been true love because they were together for 56 years. Along with Jean came her daughter Cheryl and son Rod. Robert was born in 1970 and the family was complete. In 1978 Ken and Jean bought an acreage at the Rapid City junction where they took on the task of raising animals. They had chicken, pigs, and cows. It was hard work, but the result was always a freezer full of food. Eventually they sold the acreage and ended up in Rapid City where they lived until 6 years ago when they finally made the move into the big city of Brandon, buying a trailer in Meadowlark Trailer Park. Neither Ken nor Jean like to venture very far from home. Too many things to do to be taking vacations. But they did go a few places, the Black Hills in a pop up camper and then to the cabin that they purchased at Minnedosa Beach. They also did their annual drive to Regina to have lunch with Jean’s brother Edward, but only lunch and then right back home. Ken and Jean loved to have happy hour on the deck, play Kinsmen bingo and rarely missed their two beer Sunday drives. Two beer each and a drive on the back country roads with their dog Charleigh in tow.
You didn’t have to spend too much time with Ken to realize how proud he was of his family. He always got a kick out of Robert and his buddies and the stupid things they would do. He would tell the story and laugh just like he had been part of it. Every achievement his family had whether it be in sports, their careers or simply the people they turned out to be was what meant the most to him. I remember when Ken worked at Maple Leaf that Robert would get endless calls from people who would need work done, sometimes work that Robert didn’t even do, but he would give them Rob’s number and tell him that Rob would be able to do it for him.
Ken had great lifelong friends with whom many happy hours were spent. He enjoyed a cold beer and a good story. Going for coffee with the boys at McDonald’s in his later years became a ritual. Whatever you needed Ken was there to help. He drove endless miles to visit elderly friends in Rapid City even after they moved to Brandon delivering meal and baking and doing odd jobs to help them out. He loved to attend Emma’s hockey games and rarely missed one and you could always find him out in the parking lot between periods having a beer with all the Moms.
Ken was predeceased by his parents Bill and Jean McNeill and his sister Linda Whiteside. He leaves to mourn his life long partner Jean, their son Robert, wife Tricia and granddaughter Emma. Cheryl and Gerry Kulman and grandsons Jeff (Brienna) and Kevin, Rod Greenwood (Leanne) and grandson Tyler. He was great-grandpa to Kylie and Keagan Kulman. He also leaves his sisters and their husbands, Faye and Ed Graham and Fern and Barrie Long and an Aunt Gladys McNeill. Special brothers in law Edward and Mavis Taylor and Don Walker. He is also survived by many more loved nieces and nephews as well as special niece Sharie Haines. And we can’t forget his fur baby Charleigh who is at home right now protecting his recliner from anyone who dares to sit in it.
Donations in memory of Ken may be made to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 – 17th Street East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 7M6.
Ken was born on January 31, 1945, to Bill and Jean McNeill. He was the oldest of four children. Linda was born in 1953 followed by the twins Faye and Fern in 1955. The family lived on a farm near Woodnorth, Manitoba and Ken attended school at Two Creeks until Grade 6. Being the oldest sibling meant that when Bill and Jean were busy working it was Ken’s job to watch his little sisters. He would laugh telling the story how he used to load the twins into a wagon, tie it to his horse’s tail and walk them around the yard to keep them quiet. He also told the story of his Dad taking him to town on Saturdays. Not as a treat but to drive Bill home after a night out. When Ken was 16 years old the family made their move into Virden.
Everyone who knew Ken knew that he was a hard worker. Never absent and always went above and beyond. Ken started at S&S Mercury and on the Oil rigs as a young man. When he moved from Virden to Brandon in the late 60’s he worked at Brandon Chrysler. In 1970 he worked at the Burns plant until it closed in 1990. He then worked in Oak River at Henry’s Seed Plant followed by Bill Bootsman’s doing corral cleaning. In 1999, Maple Leaf Pork came to Brandon and with Ken’s experience he was immediately hired and work there until his retirement in 2015 at the age of 70. As you can imagine, retirement wasn’t for Ken so he and Teddy got busy cutting wood which brough a lot of enjoyment throughout his later years. He also helped out Bill Bootsman driving the big pumpkin orange truck and could always be spotted by his big smile and wave out the window. There probably weren’t too many days in his retirement that he actually didn’t work doing something.
Ken and Jean met in 1963 when Ken was only 18 years old. Must have been true love because they were together for 56 years. Along with Jean came her daughter Cheryl and son Rod. Robert was born in 1970 and the family was complete. In 1978 Ken and Jean bought an acreage at the Rapid City junction where they took on the task of raising animals. They had chicken, pigs, and cows. It was hard work, but the result was always a freezer full of food. Eventually they sold the acreage and ended up in Rapid City where they lived until 6 years ago when they finally made the move into the big city of Brandon, buying a trailer in Meadowlark Trailer Park. Neither Ken nor Jean like to venture very far from home. Too many things to do to be taking vacations. But they did go a few places, the Black Hills in a pop up camper and then to the cabin that they purchased at Minnedosa Beach. They also did their annual drive to Regina to have lunch with Jean’s brother Edward, but only lunch and then right back home. Ken and Jean loved to have happy hour on the deck, play Kinsmen bingo and rarely missed their two beer Sunday drives. Two beer each and a drive on the back country roads with their dog Charleigh in tow.
You didn’t have to spend too much time with Ken to realize how proud he was of his family. He always got a kick out of Robert and his buddies and the stupid things they would do. He would tell the story and laugh just like he had been part of it. Every achievement his family had whether it be in sports, their careers or simply the people they turned out to be was what meant the most to him. I remember when Ken worked at Maple Leaf that Robert would get endless calls from people who would need work done, sometimes work that Robert didn’t even do, but he would give them Rob’s number and tell him that Rob would be able to do it for him.
Ken had great lifelong friends with whom many happy hours were spent. He enjoyed a cold beer and a good story. Going for coffee with the boys at McDonald’s in his later years became a ritual. Whatever you needed Ken was there to help. He drove endless miles to visit elderly friends in Rapid City even after they moved to Brandon delivering meal and baking and doing odd jobs to help them out. He loved to attend Emma’s hockey games and rarely missed one and you could always find him out in the parking lot between periods having a beer with all the Moms.
Ken was predeceased by his parents Bill and Jean McNeill and his sister Linda Whiteside. He leaves to mourn his life long partner Jean, their son Robert, wife Tricia and granddaughter Emma. Cheryl and Gerry Kulman and grandsons Jeff (Brienna) and Kevin, Rod Greenwood (Leanne) and grandson Tyler. He was great-grandpa to Kylie and Keagan Kulman. He also leaves his sisters and their husbands, Faye and Ed Graham and Fern and Barrie Long and an Aunt Gladys McNeill. Special brothers in law Edward and Mavis Taylor and Don Walker. He is also survived by many more loved nieces and nephews as well as special niece Sharie Haines. And we can’t forget his fur baby Charleigh who is at home right now protecting his recliner from anyone who dares to sit in it.
Donations in memory of Ken may be made to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 – 17th Street East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 7M6.