Wendell William Irvine Keeler

Suddenly, on December 13, 2025, Wendell William Irvine Keeler passed away at the Portage la Prairie Hospital at the age of 75.

Wendell is lovingly remembered by his wife, Lynne Keeler; daughter, Keri-Lynne (Paul) Bacon; son, Kenneth Keeler; and grandchildren, George Bacon and Frankie Bacon. He is also mourned by his sisters-in-law, Audry Keeler and Jane Holm, and their families: Yas Keeler; Becky (Derek) Wowchuk; and great-nieces Mya and Jane Keeler. He will be fondly remembered by his close cousin Jeff (Debbie); nephew Brad (Katharine) and their son Bren; nephew James (Jessica) and their children Bohdi, Dax, and Britain; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Wendell was predeceased by his father, Kenneth Keeler; mother, Marjorie (Couling) Keeler; brother, Wayne Keeler; grandson, Walt Bacon; nephews, Robert Keeler and Bryan Keeler; and his father- and mother-in-law, Bogga and Solvin Holm.

Wendell was born on April 8, 1950, in Hartney, Manitoba. He grew up on the family farm east of Lauder, Manitoba with his parents and his brother Wayne, and just across the road lived the “third musketeer,” his cousin Jeff Keeler (Debbie). Wendell attended Lauder School and Hartney Collegiate before continuing his education at Brandon University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees.

His teaching career brought him to Portage la Prairie, where he met Lynne. They were married on July 31, 1982, and together raised their children in Portage. Wendell held strong viewpoints—some might even call him stubborn—and he had a unique way of doing things. Once he had his mind set, good luck changing it. He was always searching for a sale, and he would stock up when there was one. You could always count on there being a stockpile of pies and ice cream in the freezer. Family was extremely important to him, and he looked forward to hosting family gatherings or attending reunions. He was deeply committed to providing the best opportunities for his family.

Summers were spent camping and on the road, mainly throughout the United States. One of Wendell’s favourite weeks of the year was spent at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot. He loved attending country music concerts, seeing artists from Garth Brooks to Taylor Swift and everyone in between. Family holidays were not meant for relaxing, but for sightseeing and exploring. Many trips were taken to Minneapolis to watch baseball, along with memorable travels to California, Florida, and South Dakota.

Sport played a major role in Wendell’s life, whether watching, playing, or coaching. He was always willing to place a friendly wager in support of his favourite teams: the Edmonton Elks, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Yankees. He also attended Winnipeg Jets games only when the Montreal Canadiens came to town.

In his spare time, Wendell enjoyed playing baseball and curling, volunteering in the community, and attending the weekly meat draw at the Legion. Throughout his life, he was actively involved in numerous community organizations, including the UCT, Kinsmen, Curl Manitoba, and the Portage Curling Club. In 2017, he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership with Curl Manitoba, an accomplishment of which he was very proud.

The Legion was a major part of Wendell’s life. As the son of a WWII veteran, he proudly honoured and remembered those who served. He held a Legion membership for 51 years.

Later in life, Wendell enjoyed travelling across Canada to attend curling events and maintained a deep connection to his English and Scottish heritage. During visits to the United Kingdom, he made a point of visiting war memorials and places of family ancestry. In retirement, he also enjoyed camping and spending time at their cabin at Pelican Lake. One of his greatest joys was his grandchildren, George and Frankie, and his granddog, Maple. He loved sharing photos of the kids with anyone who was willing to see them and especially cherished his conversations with the children while picking them up from nursery school and transporting them to daycare.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the caring staff at Portage and District Hospital, as well as to Dr. Russell Price for his many years of dedicated care.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025, at McKenzie United Church at 2:00 pm. The burial will precede the service at Rosewood Cemetery, 3 km west of Brandon at 11:00 am. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed by registering at the link below.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Wendell may be made to the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame c/o The Winnipeg Foundation, 1350 – One Lombard Place, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B 0X3 or to the Canadian Cancer Society, 55 St Clair Avenue West, Suite 300, Toronto, ON, M4V 2Y7 or to the Lauder Hall c/o Wayne Drummond Box 77, Lauder, MB R0M 1C0.

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