Obituary of Harold William "Bill" Tremain

Tremain - Harold William "Bill", late of Shellbrook Sask passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside on Nov 2/07 at the age of 88 years. Bill was born on March 16,1919 on his family homestead in Kilwinning Sask. He was the 8th child born in a family of 11. He lived his early years on the homestead and moved with his family to Shellbrook in 1926. He was raised in hard times but it made him a better man. Bill was hard working, resourceful and unselfish. As a young man of 15 he began working for threshing crews and in the fishing camps during the winters at Dore, Snake and Besnard Lakes. He also worked building elevators in Shellbrook, doing a lot of the high framing work. Dad loved to entertain. July 1st Sports Day was one of his most favorite days. He and Mr. Bibby would dress up, drive to the grounds in his Model A, the Old Mohegan and make people laugh. On July 1st 1954, Dad won the Sports Day car draw. Dad was often seen driving in his green international truck with HW Tremain written on each door with his dog Boppo as his companion, sitting in the front seat. Dad became a railway man. He maintained and built the track. Sun, wind, rain, snow, he worked using the strength of his back and the sweat of his brow to earn his living until the age of 65. His railway hat was his trademark. Dad married Mary Smith on October 10th, 1958 at a quiet ceremony in P.A. Sask. Thus began our family life together. They were blessed with two children, Eunice Mary and Robert William. We were not rich with money or material possessions but we were rich beyond anything money could buy. We had the honor of growing up with Bill as our father. Mom and Dad built their current home. Dad hand dug the basement and built our home over several years. It is a home built with love and with care and because of the love he brought to his family, this home continues to be a home of love and of warmth. Family mattered to Dad. Nothing brought him greater joy than when his children married, he had grandchildren and a great grandson. Being Grandpa was Dad's greatest life accomplishment. He had grandchildren and nothing could stop him now. They were the center of his life and he of theirs. He spent many quality hours with his grandchildren enjoying their each and every moment together. Who else took time to spend with you, to tell you stories, to walk with you, to play with you, to throw stones in the water, to sing to you and to hug you than Grandpa Bill. He was always the first to greet you and the last to say good-bye. He was their biggest fan. He left each of his grandchildren their own special memories. He instilled forever a sense of joy and of pride he had in them by remembering the fun times they had together. Dad was a special man. He was a man of the earth. He loved the beauty of nature, time spent at Memorial Lake, the planting and harvesting of his garden. He loved going to the bush for wood and burning the wood in his workshop while spending time around the woodstove with "the boys club" and in solitude. He was a meat and potatoes, work boot and lunch box kind of guy - no frills- a roof over his head, shirt on his back, a bit of jingle in his jeans and life was good. He loved to whittle with his jackknife. He would break out in song making our hearts light and happy with joy. Nothing was more beautiful than the music of his whistle on a cold winter's day. He loved to dance. He always had a smile on his face, no matter what. He had the kindest blue eyes and the biggest hugs in the world. He loved people. He always brightened their day with a story or a song. Bill loved to give people a paid day off. He would often say, you can take the rest of the day off. He had a love and a great appreciation for his special friends, for the joy they brought him and for the special things they did for him. He had a special place in his heart for his nurses and the people that cared for him during his times of illness. He never felt sorry for himself and he never complained, no matter what. Dad had a great love for Mom. He had a strong sense of family. He had a great love and pride in his children, Eunice, Gerald, Bob and Patty. His love and his pride for his grandchildren Jonathon, Crystal, Jeff and Janelle and his great-grandchild Zachary was special and the greatest ever. Grandpa loved life and lived with pride, honor and great strength of character. The day we said good-bye to him broke our hearts. We will always love you forever and keep you dear in our hearts. We are the family you were so proud of. Rest in peace Dad. We love you so. Bill is lovingly remembered by: His loving wife, Mary of Shellbrook, His children, Eunice (Gerald) Cutting of Prince Albert, Bob (Patty) Tremain of Shellbrook, His grandchildren, Jonathon Tremain , Crystal Tremain, Jeff Cutting and Janelle Cutting ; A great grandson Zachary Shane Tremain-Price, A sister, Pearl Brough of Flin Flon MB, A sister-in-law, Zella Hewison of Lake Cowichan BC, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and countless friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Helen and William Tremain, His brothers and sisters, Gordon (Evelyn) Tremain, Reta (Rid) Bruner, Lora (Arthur) Poile, Janet (Reg) Radford, Tom Tremain, Helen (Jack) Hollowell, Sammy (Ginger) Tremain, Dick (Ethel) Tremain and Kenneth Tremain; His father and mother in-laws: Hugh and Phyllis Smith. A Celebration of Life was held in the Elk's Community Hall, Shellbrook, Sask. on Thursday, November 8th at 1:00 pm with officiants; Mr. David Moe and Debbie Topping. The Organist was David Hjertaas. Tributes were done by His family and friends. The Urn Bearers: His Grandchildren. Memorial Donations: Shellbrook and Districts Health Services Renovation Project. The interment was in the Shellbrook Cemetery.