Obituary of John Wesley "Wes" Rathwell

RATHWELL: John Wesley (Wes) Rathwell of Brandon, passed away at the Assiniboine Centre, on Friday, January 28, 2011 at the age of 76 years. Wes was born September 18, 1934 to Dave and Laura Rathwell. He lived and worked on the family farm at Nesbitt until his retirement, at which time he moved to Brandon. Wes was an avid sportsman, playing hockey from a young age and curling. He played second base for the Riverside Canucks of the Manitoba Senior League for many years, and is to be inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame this coming June. Wes coached many hockey and baseball teams over the years. He also loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed time spent in his boat out on the water. Wes was a hail adjuster for Co-op Hail for 15 years, and enjoyed meeting people and getting back out in the fields. He rarely missed volunteering as an usher for the Wheat King home games, enjoying the games and the people he met there. Wes looked forward to Tuesday and Thursday evenings when he played crib at the Sokol Hall and the Army and Navy Club. He loved to play crib, meeting many good friends while doing so. Left with fond memories are his wife of 56 years, Audrey, daughter Tannis (Clark) Leachman, sons Audiss (Debbie) Rathwell, Kerry (Tannis) Rathwell; grandchildren Tara (Perry) Fisher, Nicholas (Joy) Leachman, Jeffrey Leachman, Terry (Nancy) Rathwell, Loren and Lane Rathwell, Branyn (Thomas) Brown, Bradley Rathwell; great-grandchildren Parker Fisher, Shonah, Brina and Wes Rathwell, Braylee Kowalchuk and Turner Brown; sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Elgin McConnell; sister-in-law Marjorie Campbell and numerous relatives and friends. Wes was predeceased by his parents, David and Laura (née Fowler) Rathwell, and by in-laws Bill and Dell Campbell and an infant son. A Memorial Tea to celebrate Wes' life was held Thursday, February 3, 2011 at the Nesbitt Hall, where family and friends visited and reminisced to honor Wes' memory. A private family graveside service will be held in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, "Palliative Care Services", 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3.