The Passions of
LEONARD (LEN) CHARNEY

In the evening of July 15, 2025, at Grace Hospice, with his daughter Chris by his side, long a computer programmer professionally, long a computer user personally, Len logged off. Though it was a silent final click of the key, in spirit it was as passionate as his entire life had been.

We mourn his passing. 

We celebrate his life! 

Rest in peace, 

Dear Len. 

We love you.

He was born in Winnipeg to Joseph and Emily Charney, and welcomed by big brother Bernie on May 14th, 1943. The family of four moved soon after to Garson, Manitoba, where one of Len’s passions emerged. First came brotherly love, as the two were inseparable partners in everything. We can’t know the shenanigans the two engaged in, except that they loved hunting, and were allowed to do so at those young ages. Their favorite targets were Garson rabbits, and Len’s stories of keeping some ‘family barrel’ full of rabbits, are legendary.

Ten years later, the Charney family, now expanded to include Gene and Lillian, re-located to Winnipeg. Regular family life ensued: the kids went to school; the parents went to work.

Len’s mother was an avid gardener, and not just because she liked seeing things grow. Produce from that garden was a mainstay for the family. She fed her family through the season from the bounty, then preserved the surplus for the long Winnipeg winter.

It bred another passion in Len, but it came in later life, as a family man: gardening. It was never enough for him to grow things. They had to be the biggest and the best and the most prolific, so he could share with whomever came around. This key trait stayed with him, forming one of the items on his short bucket list during his last months. With abundant loving help, he put in one more garden. It’s being harvested now, and will continue to be in the months ahead, caringly tended by his daughter Tara and his Cousins Leona and Elaine.

Len graduated from West Kildonan Collegiate Institute with Grade 12, senior matriculation, then went to work with the CNR immediately. He was a shop clerk, which stirred no passions in him. His fervency was for numbers and computers. This led him to Red River College where he excelled in computer programming.

Over the years, his talents in that field earned him senior level positions with Statistics Canada, the Canadian Wheat Board, Manitoba Data Services and IBM. He retired from IBM in 2000 after serving as project manager in the Asset Management Department.

If the theme of Len’s life is passion, he had no greater of such than for his beloved Gail, whom he married in 1971, and with whom he had two daughters, Chris and Tara. Gail’s passion for Len mirrors Len’s for her, and they stayed faithfully married, celebrating their 54thwedding anniversary, this year, with grandeur and unmatched style.

Among Len’s list of favourite activities was horse racing and betting on races. He was an aficionado for four decades or more, a regular attendee at Assiniboia Downs. When management learned of Len’s diagnosis, they chose to honour him for his patronage. On July 9 one day before their anniversary, Race 1 in the program proclaimed: The Len Charney Outstanding Fan Race. Len and 12 of his guests enjoyed a night of feasting, track side viewing and post-race photos, presentations and accolades inside the winner’s circle. It was a night to remember, an unmatched wedding anniversary party.

Another passion emerged in the mid-60s: fishing. Len, his brother Bernie and their mates, normally youth-wild in those days, after a typical party night, would shun sleep and head to the Lake of the Woods. Fish baited them, and the lure of the catch never left Len. Over the years, he engaged good friends like Arthur, joined family members who rented lodging in the area, brought his mother, his wife and children there, and he did what he loved: hauled the walleye in in great number, then cooked them and ate them with great gusto.

Another bucket list scratch-off came this summer shortly before Len hung up his rod and reel for the last time. Two magnificent outings happened, one with nephew David on Lake Winnipeg, one with niece Sharon in Pine Falls. Grandson Logan and Brother Gene accompanied them on one or both of the outings.

Len had a close relationship with his Harry Juba cousins. He considered them like sisters. For most of his life, Len enjoyed many outdoor activities with them. Hunting for game and picking morel mushrooms were among some of the best times that the cousins shared through the years. Dad had a great sense of humour, so there were many pranks and laughs among them always.

To those who survive Len: wife Gail; daughters Lesley Larsen and her children Chelsea; and Ryan and his wife Shafira; Chelsea’s daughter Valkyrie; Chris Cornwell and husband Sean; grandson Logan; daughter Tara; brother Gene and his wife Gloria; Sister Lillian; sister-in-law Bonnie Penner and husband Al; sister-in-law Terry Pritchett and husband Bill; sister-in-law Cheryl Born and husband Lloyd; brother-in-law Ron Kmet; all the nieces and nephews; all the cousins—Len would advise you with full heart to pursue your passions and to enjoy them fully.

Len was pre-deceased by loved ones: Mother and Father, Emily and Joseph Charney; Brother Bernie Charney; Brother-in-Law Todd Hrabchak; Sister-in-Law Ruth Keep; and her husband Charles Keep; and Sister-in-Law Sandra Kmet.

Vichnaya Pamyat, all.

A Celebration of Len’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 603 Wellington Crescent on Academy.

Len’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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