September 11, 1929 – July 13, 2015
Earl Robinson, loving husband of Ettie, passed away peacefully at the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, surrounded by his family.
Earl is survived by his loving wife and life-partner of almost 64 years Ettie (Peikoff), children Terry & Freda, Bonnie, Evan & Cindy, David & Liz, and grandchildren Kelly, Sean, Joshua, Ari, Zev, and Daniel, and sister Gloria Robins. He was predeceased by his parents Esther (Vineberg) & Sydney I. Robinson and his brother Myles.
Earl was born in Regina, moving to Winnipeg with his family when he was very young. He graduated from Kelvin High School and then completed a business course at Success College.
Earl’s life revolved around his life-partnership with Ettie. Married in 1951, their individual, unique skills formed a team that excelled in both family and business life. Raising their children, the family cottage at Big Whiteshell Lake, travel and extended family celebrations were all very important to both of them.
His priority was to take care of Ettie, always trying to make her life better. Earl was very proud of his grandchildren and intimately interested in their lives. He loved dogs and babies and they loved him back.
He was a longtime member of Glendale Country Club and the Rady Centre. He had fond memories of B’nai Brith Camp at Sandy Hook and Camp Stephens near Kenora, both as a camper and staff person. He enjoyed swimming, bowling, golf and Bridge.
Earl looked forward to returning to Palm Springs every fall where he loved sharing the house with family and friends.
Earl started out in business with his Dad, travelling the countryside to buy seneca root and furs. He expanded a small counter selling hunting and trapping supplies into S.I.R. Mail Order and Sports Store, a major national operation that was known in every rural corner of the country. Many people spent hours dreaming of the things that they could order from the ‘S.I.R. book’, that he had pasted up by hand with a knife and rubber cement.
Earl was tenacious in everything he did. Sometimes compared to the ‘Energizer Bunny’, an ailing body could not stop his drive to plan, build, fix and do, until the very end.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff of St. Boniface hospital in the Dialysis Unit, 5B and the ICU for their wonderful care.
Memorial donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights or the Sunshine Fund.
Funeral services were held at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Wednesday, July 15. Pallbearers were Evan, David, Liz, Ari and Zev Robinson and Daniel Rosenfeld.
