Terrence “Terry” Albert Williams

September 8, 1931 - March 13, 2024

Terry, Uncle Terry, Papa Terry, Papa T as he was known to some, but Dad to us, passed away on March 13, 2024 with his daughter-in-law Kyle at his side holding his hand.

Dad was born in Winnipeg on September 8, 1931, to Robert and Edith Williams, younger sibling to his sister Marion (Claire).

On June 15, 1957, he married Margaret Madden and set about starting a family.

He joined the Air Force, became a jet fighter pilot with the RCAF, and obtained his degree in Civil Engineering.

Following stints in Cold Lake, Alberta, and North Bay, Ontario (where his elder sons Martin and Michael were born), he left the Air Force, returned to Winnipeg to settle on Oxford Street with Mom, where they were soon joined by 2 more sons, Stephen, and the youngest, Kevin.

Not satisfied with that complement, the family was soon joined by Dad's father, Grampy, who lived with us for 15 years.

Dad worked for the Province of Manitoba, taught surveying and photogrammetry (as it was then known) at Red River Community College, and later returned to the Provincial Government to finish his career as the Surfacing Engineer for the Province of Manitoba, Department of Highways. That position, as the title described, in part involved the inspection of the surfaces of the Provincial highways, which he did, in earnest.  The most inspected highway surface in the Province was Highway 1 East, to the Ontario border, which he inspected weekly Friday afternoons in the summer months along with the entire family at his side on the drive to the family cottage in Minaki, Ontario.  

Dad loved the lake more than any place in the world. In his early years he spent his entire summers there with his Mother and sister, after his Mom had purchased the cottage, sight unseen, with her stock market winnings. Travelling by train, with the summer’s food stock in a tea crate, they would row across to the cottage and retire for the summer.

After Dad became the owner of the cottage, summers were spent building additions, reconfiguring the layout, and most importantly, entertaining countless friends and families for weekends and extended stays. The Harris, Granger and Hendry families were the most frequent attendees in the early years, the Bernardins in later years, but there were a myriad of other welcomed guests. 

While Dad referred to it is as "puttering" at the lake, most would refer to it as heavy construction.  Most end of days were spent with friends on the front porch having a “happy hour” drink before partaking in his favourite meal, garlic toast followed by "steak on the birch" as he used to refer to it.

Dad was a consummate bridge player, played badminton (until he tore both Achilles tendons), and was also an accomplished upholsterer and sewer, following in his Mother’s footsteps.

After 27 years on Oxford, Mom and Dad moved to River Road before finally settling in at the Canoe Club, where they lived and Dad continued to live after Mom's passing in 2018. 

There he made a number of new friends, coordinated the Bridge Club, and spent many hours walking the grounds with his dog, Kelly. Dad was a lover of animals, big and small. He had a pet dog at his side for almost his entire life.

Dad was a well travelled man, with repeated trips to England, Ireland, Europe, and Hawaii in his younger years with their closest friends, Joan and John Harris. Mom and Dad finally settled on Portugal for their winter respites, where they travelled for a number of years and where he could enjoy his Dover sole. In his latter years, Dad travelled to Arizona and Palm Springs with us, where Stephen, Rob, Michael and Pat would join our family to congregate after Christmas. He also enjoyed his visits to Hornby Island to see Michael and Pat, and to San Luis Obispo to see Stephen and Rob.  Dad had an adventurous spirit and was always open to trying new things, discovering a love of sushi in his eighties.  He was up for anything, posed for countless photographs, and even had an Instagram account that was run by his granddaughter, @therealpapaterry.

While difficult to sum up as a man in a sentence, Dad would be described as accomplished, capable, humorous, and most importantly, the most positive person you would have ever met. Until the day he passed, to him life was all about looking forward, without regrets about the past which no one has the ability to change. His positivity was an inspiration to us all.

The entire family would like to extend a very special thanks to Kyle.  Given that most of the family live out of town she took up the task of taking care of Dad, particularly once he stopped driving, accompanying him to medical appointments, and providing detailed accounts of these visits to the brothers on the aptly named "Terry's Health Report" group chat. On behalf of the Williams boys, we owe her a debt of gratitude. Dad's latter years would never have been the same without her.

Terry is survived by his sons Martin, Michael (Pat), Stephen (Rob), and Kevin (Kyle), grandsons Reid (Karla), Blair and Trent, granddaughters Jenelle and Sigga, his great-granddaughter Audrey, and his sister Marion.

In keeping with Dad's wishes he has been cremated and will be buried in a private ceremony.

He will be in our hearts and minds forever.

Flowers are gratefully declined.  If friends so desire, donations in his name can be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society or the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter.

Bye for now, Dad.

Branch & Pyre Cremation Care