George Keives, born October 1, 1923 in Constantinople, Turkey passed away peacefully at age 95 on March 25, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
His parents made the choice to immigrate to Canada to become farmers when our father was age three. He travelled from Turkey across Europe to Amsterdam, by ship to Montreal and then by train to the Jewish Colony of Sonnenfeld (Hoffer/Oungre) in southern Saskatchewan.
Father loved school and was a good student. He always enjoyed softball and was a very good pitcher. After high school, he briefly attended the University of Saskatchewan with dreams of becoming an engineer. Due to family needs, he left university to return to the family farm to help his parents.
On October 20, 1946 he married Anita Feuer and they had four children. In 1948 they purchased their own farm. The work was hard and the hours were long but father had a good feel for the land and a determination to succeed. That combination made him a good farmer and that farm is still within family ownership.
Father and mother were married for 57 years before Mother’s passing in 2004. They both had a love for travelling and had the opportunity to visit Mexico, Israel and Hawaii. When they retired they purchased a motor home so they could see the landscape by ground. Travelling coast to coast throughout Canada and the US, along the way they created memories and stories that they enjoyed sharing with family and friends. Whether it was the Alaska Highway or their favourite winter spot in Palm Springs, they packed up and off they went.
After watching a “How to” picture painting show on TV in the late 1970s, father found out he had a natural ability for painting. He created some beautiful works of art that he was very proud of. As his eyesight began to fail he was forced to give up his painting, but he loved to show and talk about his work.
A very proud and independent man, he continued to live in his own home in Garden City until shortly before his passing. He was a lifetime member at the Gwen Sector and made many friends. Our father prided himself in accomplishing something every day. In his own words, he had no regrets for what he had done in his life but rather for things he had not done.
Predeceased by his parents, Kiva and Laka, wife Anita, son Lorne, sister Sophie Elfenbien, and brothers, Phillip and Ted.
Survived by his sons, Garry (Kim), Rick (Cyndy) and daughter Norma; grandchildren, Nico, Nina, Andrew and Jeremy, and great-grandchildren, Alex, Konner and Charlotte; a sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Services were held on March 27 at the Chesed Shel Emes with interment at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.
Special thanks to friends and family for sharing their time with him.
You will be greatly missed.
May you rest in peace.
