Obituary of William "Bill" Earl Brownridge

BROWNRIDGE: William "Bill" Earl Brownridge passed away at his residence at Hillcrest Place on August 7, 2013 at the age of 89 years. He was the third child (first son) born to Harold and Marguerite Brownridge. He was raised with three brothers and five sisters in the Rural Municipalities of Elton and Saskatchewan. He attended Rugby, Oakleigh and Rapid City Schools. In 1944, he took his military training in Winnipeg. On July 20, 1948, he married Betty Naisbitt at St. George's Church. Bill worked for local farmers and they lived in the area for a few years, moving to Brandon in 1953 where Bill began his career in Auto Mechanics. He did this for 34 years until retirement. Bill loved farm life, often helping nieces and nephews, especially at harvest time. Although he never had children of his own, he was very fond of children as well as dogs and cats. Betty passed away in 1994. Bill met his second wife, Cecile Dubois in Brandon. Together they moved to Langley, BC and were married there December 31, 1999. Bill loved BC but was a "Prairie Boy" at heart and returned to Manitoba every chance he had. After several strokes, he was left with a medical condition called Aphasia (the inability to communicate). To be closer to family for help, he was moved back to Brandon in 2007 where he and Cecile resided at Victoria Landing. Cecile passed away in 2008. In 2011, he was moved to Hillcrest Place where he received excellent care. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Mary Farough, brothers John, Keith, Murray, brothers-in-law Ralph Haslen, John Phillips, Orval Farough, sisters-in-law Eileen and Marjorie Brownridge and step son Andy Dubois. He is survived by four sisters and one sister-in-law, Jean Haslen, Audrey Phillips, Gwen (Ernie) Hickson, Shirley (John) Krawchuk, Rose Brownridge and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews. He is also survived by Cecile's family, Ron, Reg and Guy Dubois, Della Rossal, Jean Gerry, Marie-Ange Baxter and their families. A Service of Remembrance will be held at the Brockie Donovan Chapel, 332-8th Street, on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. with Funeral Celebrant, Kim Lewarne officiating. Interment will follow at St. George's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bill may be made to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200-17th Street East, Brandon, MB, R7A 7M6.