LAWRENCE (LAWRY) VEERT

A golden heart stopped beating and hard-working hands were laid to rest… as the Captain of our Veert team said his final goodnight. We are devastated and heartbroken to say that on the evening of Wednesday, November 23, Lawrence (Lawry) Veert passed away. He was our beacon, guiding light, mentor, and the person who always helped us find our way back to the right path. The strongest link in our family chain is broken. He was the glue that held us all so close. His love and devotion to his family was extraordinary.

Lawry was born on Dec 12, 1933 to John and Pauline Veert. He grew up in Winnipeg and moved to Emo where he owned Emo Motors with his Dad. On a warm August night in 1958, he met the love of his life, Catherine (Kay) while going to the Emo Fair. They married in February 1959 and had 4 children; Paul (Joyce), Patty, Nancy (Colin), and Tom (Chris). He taught his children so much and was that “ever present” parent—instilling the family values of being humble, driven, and having a huge zest for living a full life. 

How do you pay tribute to a man whose life changed the lives of so many? If you met him once, he was unforgettable and fondly remembered. His presence is what everyone remembers—kind, generous (with his time and money), his smile, laughter, genuine care for others, great stories, and a life so well lived. He had so much life he still wanted to live. Our Dad was wise beyond education-- he was self-taught and could figure out most things. Right up until the end, he was sharp, mentally strong, constantly thinking of solutions to a problem, always putting others before himself, and loved to reminisce about great times and memories of the past.

Life is meant for living and Lawry certainly did just that. He loved life!! Our Dad was a true legend and lived life with passion. He believed that a family that plays together stays together. If you could dream it, he would make it happen! He exposed his family to a vast array of activities. It started with ponies when we were very young, a playhouse for the girls, a tree house for the boys, mini-bikes, 4 wheelers, go-carts, sailboat, windsurfer, wet-bikes, waterskiing, water-ski boats, hunting, a trap line, and then on to motocross racing, to our own huge skating rink with family hockey nights, great times in Florida, Christmas memories of traditions, hard work, pride of ownership, snowmobiling, cottage life, and so much more.

His life was filled with adventures from owning a garage, to being top car salesman, owner of Veert’s Cottages, family cottage, obtaining his pilot’s license and owing his own plane, driving his Goldwing motorcycle with his wife across 4 provinces and back through 4 states, to finding a way to retire at 60 and spend 19 winters in Florida.

His wife was his pride and joy. They were definitely a yin and yang couple. She was easy to go along with the plans and he was the ideas person with the decisive mind. Together, they shared 63 years of love and adventures. From convincing his wife to be the first passenger when he became a pilot, to winters in Florida, trips to the casinos, and everything in between, they had so much fun together. When they danced together, it was a true “dance”—they loved to polka and square dance.

Lawry and Kay moved to Winnipeg 3 years ago to be closer to family. We are forever grateful for the extra time together this has given us. Although, Lawry would always say that Fort Frances was home!

Lawry will forever be loved and dearly missed by his beloved wife- Kay, his children- Paul, Patty, Nancy and Tom, grandchildren- Anthony, Kelsey, Brayden, Jarret, Brendan and Olivia, and great grandchildren- Ava, Oliver, Jace, and Remi. His world was our family and he was our world.

“Anyone can be a Father, but it takes a very special man to be a Dad.”

A private Celebration of Life will be held in the new year.

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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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