DAVID KENNETH HIEBERT

It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of David Kenneth Hiebert on January 13, 2021 at Calvary Place Personal Care Home at the age of 75.

Left to mourn Dave’s passing are his loving wife, Leona, son Jason (Val Ladan); son Chris (Allison Shevernoha) and grandchildren Flynn and Sadie. He is survived by his brother Dan (Iris) and sisters Irene Schroeder (Randy) and Elsie Pelletier (Maurice), and brother-in-law Menno Bergman, as well as nieces and nephews. Also missing him are mother-in-law, Mary Dyck, and sister-in-law Doreen (Tom) and family.

Dave was predeceased by his parents Isaac and Susan Hiebert, his sisters Dorothy and Edna and father-in-law, Jake Dyck.

Born on October 8, 1945 in Altona, Manitoba, Dave grew up as the oldest son in a loud, boisterous, fun-loving family.  Since his father was the custodian of a school, the whole family was involved in helping him with his duties and due to this, Dave developed a good work ethic.

It was love at first sight for both of them when he met Leona, and they were married on June 3, 1967. Together they enjoyed 53 years of marriage and raised two upstanding sons.

Dave worked in the automotive trade, as a technician for 45 years.  Upon retirement he felt the need to remain active and put his love for driving to use delivering goods for a few small businesses.  His favorite job was delivering ice cream all over Manitoba.

Dave was a people person and loved nothing more than gallivanting around the St. Norbert neighbourhood visiting and offering help to one and all. From snow blowing at least half the back lane, to mowing lawns, to fine tuning a neighbour’s garden tiller which was not running as perfectly as Dave thought it should, to fixing someone’s car, our neighbors were the beneficiaries of his good heart.  After Dave went to reside at Calvary Place Leona was the recipient of many acts of kindness as thanks for the many favours done for others.  There was nothing that Dave could not fix, build or do – a jack of all trades and a master of most.

Dave took great pride in looking after his large yard.  The lawn was always meticulously mowed and the flower beds weeded.  He quite enjoyed having neighbours walk by and compliment him on the appearance of the yard.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed sitting outside on the patio in his lawn chair until the wee hours of the morning.  The bunnies, who inhabited our yard, would come sit beside him and would even allow him to touch them.  Long after Dave no longer resided in our house, neighbours would inquire as to his welfare and mention that they missed seeing him sitting on the patio.  He had become a fixture who waved at, and talked to, everyone who passed by.

Dave was a person who got involved in whatever was going on around him.  When his sons were growing up he was active on the Board of the St. Norbert Community Club.  He was also very actively involved as a Cub/Scout leader.  There were many camping trips, hikes and winter camping excursions with Jason and Chris.  Leona often participated in the camping as a cook’s helper.  The smoky smell of campfires, which permeated every item of clothing and bedding, is still a distinct memory.

Dave loved music and he and Leona were both active members of the First Mennonite Church choir for many years.  Once Dave could no longer attend church, he enjoyed participating in the chapel services and Sing-alongs at Calvary Place Personal Care Home.

A very talented woodworker, Dave spent many hours in his garage, after a full day’s work, creating gorgeous fretwork items on his scroll saw.  He found peace and relaxation in his “hobby”. He was a perfectionist and every item had to be flawless.  Together Dave and Leona created a small business, Creative Scrollsaw, and for 20 or so years displayed and sold Dave’s creations at craft sales.  Great enjoyment came from spending time meeting customers and other vendors, and it was also a time of companionship and sharing good times.  The plan was to take the trailer and crafts on the road after retirement but unfortunately that plan was curtailed.

The most enjoyable time as a family was camping.  We started out in a small tent when our sons were still very young, graduated to a small pop-up trailer, a larger fold-down trailer with more amenities, to a 19 ft. trailer and ended up campground hosting at Grand Beach in a 30 ft. trailer which was like living in luxury.  As a family, our favourite campground was Spruce Woods and we hiked every trail many times over.  When our family was grown, Dave and Leona spent a number of years seasonal camping at Grand Beach and when the campground host position became available Dave applied and we spent 5 very enjoyable years meeting and looking after the needs of campers, until failing health forced Dave to resign.

On August 1, 2018 Dave dislocated his shoulder in a bad fall, one of many falls over the past year, and due to Parkinson’s and silent vascular strokes which created vascular dementia, he became a resident on Heritage Lodge Personal Care Home and in May 2019 transferred to Calvary Place Personal Care Home, which became his home of choice until his passing.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life memorial will take place at a later date. In the meantime, Dave'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. They also encourage the sharing of photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

The family wishes to thank the staff on 2 South at Calvary Place for the amazing care, love and compassion they have shown in looking after Dave.  Words cannot express our appreciation.  You are an amazing group of people.  Special thanks to Anna who could cajole Dave into smiling and having a good day.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in Dave’s memory, to Calvary Place Personal Care Home, 1325 Erin Street, Winnipeg, R3E 3R6 or Parkinson’s Canada.

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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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