Ronald Painter

The funeral service will be live streamed on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 11:00 am, please click to register and view the service. https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=f250635e-3276-4a34-bde7-36ffd1e6a6e8

We are saddened to announce the passing of our father Ron Painter on January 15, 2022, at the age of 86.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Leona, as well as siblings Helen Gmitrowski, Joan Blaine, and Lorne Painter, brothers-in-law Ted Gmitrowski and Eldon Rintoul, and his parents, George and Lorna Painter. Left to mourn his passing are his children Ed (Nancy), Diane (Bob) Neufeld, and Rob (Lisa Kennedy); grandchildren Amy (Amiee), Andrea, James (Ashley), James (Merissa), Jessica (Scott), and Jennifer (Rodney); great-grandchildren Lily and Jack; step-grandchildren Jason, Jaime and Andy; siblings Georgina Rintoul, Tom Painter and Pattie Painter; brother-in-law Bernard Blaine, sister-in-law Orlia Painter, brother-in-law Ed Gheyssens (Mary) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Ron was born at home in the Clairmont district of the RM of North Norfolk, Manitoba. Soon after, his parents moved to Winnipeg were he started his schooling. His parents then purchased a farm in the Lavenham area just several miles from where he was born. He lived here until after he married our mother Leona (Gheyssens) in 1956 and they set out on their own, farming near Lavenham for a short time before moving to Portage la Prairie where Dad started his career to become a journeyman auto mechanic. Over time, it became known that “If Ron Painter can’t fix it, nobody can.”

Dad’s hobbies at the time all involved mechanics and outdoors – he was one of the first people in the area to start riding snowmobiles, including several years of amateur racing and worked on stock cars for local tracks; he enjoyed hunting as well as repairing and operating equipment on his friends’ farms. He was proud of being a volunteer firefighter.

Dad inherited the ability to fix almost anything, a skill he carried with him throughout his life. During his long career at Portage Garage, there were customers who brought their cars from Winnipeg specifically to have Ron work on them.

Their three children, Ed, Diane and Rob, were all born in Portage. The family returned to farming in 1971, when Ron purchased his Uncle Bill Painter’s farm near Edwin. He grew grain and started a dairy farm. He was one of the first farmers in the area to put dual wheels on field tractors. He was also a 4-H leader, teaching mechanics, and drove a school bus in his early years at Edwin.

He expanded the amount and types of crops he grew when his sons joined him in farming. Later, after semi-retiring from farming, he worked as a school bus mechanic for the Pine Creek School Division.

He remained near Edwin until he and Mom moved to Portage la Prairie in 2014. He made many friends in the Edwin area and loved getting together for visits and parties.

Dad and Mom always enjoyed camping; since the early ‘60s when he made his first camper trailer, they looked forward to getting out with extended family and friends. They returned to traveling in their retirement, exploring across Canada from east to west and as far north as Nunavut in their camper.

Dad was greatly affected by the loss of our mother in December 2020 after more than 64 years of marriage, and we are comforted knowing they are now reunited.

Viewing and visitation will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel from 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Sunday, January 23, 2022. Funeral Service will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel at 11:00 am on Monday, January 24, 2022, with interment to follow at Rossendale Cemetery. Covid protocols will be in place, and proof of vaccination will be required to attend. The funeral service will be live streamed, please click here to register and view https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=f250635e-3276-4a34-bde7-36ffd1e6a6e8

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 1379 Kenaston Boulevard Winnipeg, MB R3P 2T5 or a charity of your choice in Ron’s memory.

A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com 204-857-4021