It is with heavy hearts that we the family announces the passing of our brother, uncle, brother in-law, cousin and friend, Willard, on April 30, 2026 at the age of 67 years.
Willard was born at The Pas, Manitoba on Monday, March 13, 1959. He was a friendly person and in his younger years he was a fisherman. Due to an accident, he was placed at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre until he was transferred to Heritage Lodge until his passing.
Willard will be sadly missed by his sister, Marilyn; his nieces, Cherlyn (Dalton), Samantha and Angie; nephew, Kenneth; brother in-law, Dave Reich; grandchildren, Horizon, Colin, Erinruby, Renzo, Michael, Cheznae, Kortez, Izrehl and Hilda; as well as numerous other relatives.
Willard was predeceased by his parents, Colin and Elsie Mink; sister, Marjorie; brothers, Ernie and Percy; aunties, Myra, Christine, Sarah, Victoria, Virginia, Annie and Florence; uncles, Thomas, Stephen, Joshua, Walter, Alpheus, Raymond, Silas and Robert; cousins, Norah Wasacesp and Hazel Mink; along with numerous other relatives.
Appreciation:
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre and Heritage Lodge for their care of our brother and the Chemawawin Chief & Council
Wake Services: Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, 2026 at the Ininewak Mamawi Centre, Easterville, Manitoba
Funeral Service: Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Alban’s Anglican Church, Easterville, Manitoba
Officiant: Rev. Stella Ledoux
Interment: St. Alban’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Easterville, Manitoba
Pallbearers:
Michael Lachose - Brian George - Bruce George
Norris Thomas - Tron Thomas - Oliver Daniels
Thomas Mink - Stanley Daniels - Peter Ballantyne
Hubert Thomas - Leroy Lachose - Calvin Lachose - Dalton Schultz
Honorary Pallbearers:
Rhonda George - Lora Thomas - Lila Mink
Darlene Thomas - Gilbertine Munroe - Gary Mink
Derek Mink - Margie Mink - Clara Mink - Leroy Lachose
In Tears
In tears we saw you sinking, We watched you fade away,
You suffered much in silence, You fought so hard to stay.
You faced your task with courage, Your spirit did not bend,
But still you kept on fighting, Until the very end.
God saw you getting tired, When a cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around you, And whispered, “Come to Me.”
So when we saw you sleeping, So peaceful, free from pain,
We could not wish you back, To suffer that again.
It Broke Our Hearts To Lose You
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
Though your smile is gone forever,
And your hand we cannot touch,
We will never lose the memory,
Of one we loved so much.
Thanks for the loving years you gave us,
The happy times we shared,
We all pray that when you left us,
You knew how much we cared.
Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
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