NEIL BRUCE RAYMOND DINNIN

With heavy hearts, we announce that Neil passed away suddenly on September 14, 2020, at home, at the age of 39 years.

Neil is survived by his parents Bruce and Wendy Dinnin, brothers Ken (Sheri) and Brett Dinnin, niece Chelsea and many extended family and friends.

Neil was a very precocious, active and curious child.  He was constantly on the go, made his parents run off their feet and could keep his grandma running down the street after him while he was naked.  Neil was very intelligent and could keep you guessing all the time, even as a toddler.  Meanwhile, during his school career, he also kept his teachers on their toes with a personality to reckon with and pranks that were wild as the wind.  Teachers that we would like to acknowledge with their patience and virtue are the Berard sisters and Bill the Custodian from St. Germaine School in Winnipeg and Mr. Granger from Dakota Collegiate in Winnipeg. 

From a young age, Neil displayed a passion and absolute talent for sports.  He was an avid hockey, lacrosse, soccer, rollerblade hockey and baseball player for his entire life.  He started out with Timbits hockey and from there the love for the game grew and blossomed to an elite level.  He was a force to be reckoned with on the ice.  He won many a championship during his career.  His father, Bruce, coached him and helped him developed into the great hockey and team player he was.  He also had the love of sport in many other sports, but especially baseball, that he enjoyed immensely with many of his friends up to this day.  “Cheers Mixed Nuts!”

If you shared any moments with Neil, you knew that Neil had an avid love of fishing, whether it be summer fishing or ice fishing.  He loved to take Keira and Chelsea to the Pier or his secret spot at Victoria Beach or to Assiniboine River with is friends, he was in his element and was at his happiest.

Neil was a connoisseur of cooking, trying new recipes and mixing spices until he got just the right flavors.  He was always looking to please his audience with his new creations. His most famous recipes were his smoothies and his breakfast sandwiches.

At Victoria Beach, the family cabin, Neil was also in his glory.  He loved to tinker, fish, build, visit, fix and maintain the bikes, visit with family and have friends over to enjoy time around the fire.

Trips to Cuba…well, what can we say, fun, calm, happy, party time!  One memorable, but scary time, was when we were snorkelling, we almost lost Neil and Irina when they continued to float away with the current for about a mile (with Mama Dinnin screaming at the guide), but the guide saved the day and swam and eventually saved them.

Neil shared memorable moments with his brothers.   Ken recalls riding around with Neil on the back of his BMX bike with the baby seat on the back while he was hanging around with his friends at approximately age 16 (what fun!), while Brett remembers rushing back from hockey in the U.S. with Neil to watch their niece play hockey in Carmen and the many hockey and baseball tournaments played together in their teen and adult years.

Neil had a special place in his heart for Chelsea and Keira, the two neices that he treated like gold and created numerous memories with…Uncle Neil adventures were never boring.  They both will miss him dearly. 

Understandably, the family and dearest friends will miss Neil to the ends of the earth and still cannot imagine the rest of the time on this earth without him.  Words cannot express how much we miss him already and how much heartache has been felt with his passing.  We have had many laughs and tears over the last month remembering his spirit and soul and have tried to begin the healing process but continue to look to each other, family members and our friends for comfort.

In keeping with Neil’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private celebration of his life will be held when it is possible to gather. In the meantime, Neil’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos and/or sharing your own memories and stories using the comment section on this page.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Ethical Death Care for the support and kindness during a difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Siloam Mission or Anxiety Disorders of Manitoba.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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