Lawrence Clifford Spinks

 Peacefully on March 25, 2020,  Lawrence Spinks of Portage la Prairie passed away in the Portage & District General Hospital at the age of 98 years.

Lawrence was predeceased by wife Isobel in 2007; parents Samuel & Dorothy (Minnifer); sister Edythe Dowdall in 2006; father and mother in law James and Martha Burns. He is survived by his daughter Janice Spinks, daughter Linda (Bernie) Brecknell  from Bagot and granddaughters Jennifer Boychuk (Darrel) from Winnipeg; Carolynn Brecknell (Mark Pallau) from B.C.; brother Leonard (Betty) from Ontario and niece Faye Morin from Ontario.

Lawrence was born in Almonte Ontario, on May 15, 1921. He lived on a farm with his family at White Lake Ontario. The depression years were tough on him and the family. Lawrence served with the Army Cadets in 1936-37 while in high school. He worked in the Collie Woolen Mill in Appleton Ontario for 5 years prior to enlisting in the Army in June 1942. Lawrence was married just 5 days before reporting for duty in Ottawa Ontario. He trained with the artillery before being sent to England in September 1942. While in England, Lawrence then trained as a tank driver + mechanic attached to the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, 56th Battery driving a Sherman M10 tank. He and his crew landed on Juno beach one month after the Normandy invasion. Lawrence served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was discharged in January 1946.

After the war Lawrence enlisted in the R.C.A.F. He served as an aircraft mechanic in Canada as well as Germany, deciding to make Portage la Prairie his permanent home. After retiring from a lengthy career in the Airforce, he took an Operating Engineer course and worked at the Norway House Hospital for several years until he retired at 64 years of age. While there, he passed his spare time on wood working projects as well as fishing in the local lakes and rivers. Lawrence joined a bowling league in Portage la Prairie and enjoyed gardening. He kept himself busy, always at work doing something around the house.

Don’t cry for me,

 I’m not gone.

 My soul is at rest,

 My heart lives on.

At Lawrence’s request, a private family graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Portage Animal Welfare Society, 121-12th St. N.E. Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 4A2

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