WILLIAM ARNOLD COATES (published on January 30, 2010)
| WILLIAM ARNOLD COATES William (Bill) Coates passed away peacefully on January 26, 2010 at Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg. Bill was born on November 21, 1913 in the Portage la Prairie area. He was the son of Albert Arnold Coates and Annie Mae Dunn. The family lived in the Salem district and briefly in the Magnet area. Bill attended Salem school. When he was 15 he became employed with the Imperial Oil Company and worked with them in Portage la Prairie and later in Winnipeg until his retirement. He fought in the Second World War and was stationed in England, Scotland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. He fought at the battle of Nijmegen, Holland. At the end of the war, while on guard duty in Holland he met his future bride Ida Crans. She asked him if he had any English language magazines for her Scottish landlady. He provided her with the magazines and a chocolate bar which was a luxury at the time. That was the beginning of a lifelong romance. Bill soon went back to Canada and the two corresponded until Ida made her way here and they married. Ida sadly passed away in August 2009. Bill enjoyed farming and worked part-time on the land he owned. Upon his retirement he built a new home there. Bill loved the outdoors, nature and feeding the birds and squirrels that visited his farm. Bill is survived by his daughters, Pat Coates and Wendy Pukin; son-in-law Harvey Pukin; grandchildren, Michael, David and Steven Pukin; sister Gladys O'Neil; and nephew Terry O'Neil and family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society which was Bill and Ida's favourite charity. They always had a pet dog or cat and sometimes both. As per their request, there will be no funeral. They have asked that an informal memorial service be held at Maple Grove Cemetery to celebrate their life together by their close friends and relatives. This will probably be held in late spring when the weather is warmer. A reception will follow. A time and date will be announced prior to the event. |
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