EARL McCASKILL

It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Earl McCaskill on the morning of August 24 in the palliative care unit of St. Boniface Hospital. Earl fought the good fight for fifteen months and bravely dealt with every obstacle thrown his way but in the end cancer prevailed.

Earl is survived by his wife of 59 years Phyllis, his son Warren (Kelly) and grandchildren Cara, Amy (Francesco), and Andrew. Earl was predeceased by his beloved daughter Corinne in 1982 whom they lost as a result of an impaired driver. He was also predeceased by his parents George and Cleta McCaskill.

Earl was an only child, born in Portage La Prairie on December 10, 1942. At a young age the family moved to Winnipeg and settled in the West End.

In 1963 Earl met his wife Phyllis at the Young United Church where they were both part of the same youth group and the rest, as they say is history, spending the next sixty years devoted to each other.

Although Earl had a few jobs here and there it was being hired by the Winnipeg Police Department in January 1965 at the age of twenty two that he was singularly most proud of. For the next 32 years Earl worked hard, all the while making the memories he so often recounted over the years. Even while in the hospital he reminisced about giving advice to people on a daily basis trying to help them through the challenges they faced. As a young Constable he walked the beat and wore the buffalo coat. Earl was one of a few who would still remember using call boxes to reach dispatch. He worked general patrol in various district stations around the city and upon his retirement in 1997 he was assigned to his favourite post, Traffic Division, holding the rank of Patrol Sergeant. It was through being a police officer that Earl made many life-long friendships, found poker buddies, and travel companions. One of Earl’s proudest moments was presenting Warren with his graduation certificate upon Warren’s graduation from the Police Academy in 1987.

After retiring from the Service Earl became a car dealer and sold vehicles for many years making a lot of connections along the way. He was always willing and happy to help Warren at the shop or assist family and friends with errands whenever needed. Earl and Phyllis enjoyed traveling immensely, driving all over the United States as well as vacationing in many sun and sand spots but Vegas was always their special place.

In May 2022 Earl was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Over the next fifteen months he spent a lot of time in and out of hospital dealing with a myriad of obstacles that were thrown his way but he remained steadfast and determined. This past May he learned the cancer had returned in the liver and lungs and entered the at-home palliative care program in late July, allowing him to spend as much time within the comforts of home as he could. We are thankful he was able to move with Phyllis to their new condo if even for a short time before being admitted to the St. Boniface Hospital’s palliative care unit where he stayed until his passing.

Thank you to all of the nursing and support staff of the palliative care unit for their kindness and compassion taking care of Earl and his family during this long and emotional journey - words cannot express the impact you’ve had.

Earl wanted to thank special lifelong friends Wayne and Reta as well as friends Bob & Sandy for all of their support, compassion, and friendship.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at the John Black Memorial United Church, 898 Henderson Highway. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

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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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