William Rutherford Paddock

It is with broken hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved father, William “Bill” Rutherford Paddock, a kind and gentle soul, on Friday, December 6, 2024, in Yorkton, SK at the age of 92.

Dad will be lovingly remembered as the best father, Pa (Grandpa), Great Pa, Uncle and dear friend to so many. Dad was a quiet and soft-spoken man, and oh so witty! Dad was always the person you could call. Whenever you needed him – he was there, whatever it was, whatever time it was, being there to help his family was very important to him.

Dad was born and raised in Winnipegosis, MB. He worked in Oshawa, ON for a short time and then worked from 1955-1958 in Churchill, MB at the Foundation Company of Canada; this company was responsible for the installation of the DEW Line. 1958-1963 Dad worked at the Department of National Defence in Churchill, MB. In 1963, he transferred from the Heavy Equipment Operations, Department of National Defence to the Fort Churchill Diesel Generating Plant where he continued on until 1968 when the plant became a Manitoba Crown Corporation -Manitoba Hydro and Dad became a Diesel Mechanic. In 1987 the Hydro line to Churchill was commissioned and in April of 87 Mom and Dad transferred to Island Lake, MB. They loved it there, it was a fly-in community and Dad had to visit his sites he looked after by small fixed wing-air craft, helicopter, outboard motor and boat. ATV and snowmobile during break-up and freeze up, which was completely fine with him, this was right up his alley. Dad retired in 1993 from Manitoba Hydro and returned to his home in Winnipegosis, MB. He was then recruited by the Northwest Power Corporation out of Cambridge Bay, NWT (Nunavut) as a Diesel Mechanic from 1995 to 1996. He loved it up there and told us lots of stories about his time up there, they wanted Dad to stay, but he said he put “decades in the North” and it was time to retire.

Outside of all his professional achievements, Dad was a man of many passions. Dad enjoyed nothing more than being in nature, he was an avid outdoors man who enjoyed fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and boating with his family. He thoroughly enjoyed his cabin “up the Churchill River and at Goose Creek in Churchill, MB”. We have fond memories of taking the boat to the cabin in the summer months and skidooing out to the cabin in the Winter. He thoroughly enjoyed his 31 years of retirement! He played slow-pitch softball for many years, travelled, fished and joined the New Horizons Senior Center in Winnipegosis where he was the Past-President at the time of his passing. Dad played the drums and was in a band in Churchill, MB, he was also the Past-President of the Churchill Curling Club, Churchill Pistol and Rifle Club, Churchill Old Timers Hockey Club and a Past member of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Vestry Board as well he was an Ambulance Attendant in Churchill and a voluntary Firefighter in Stevenson Island (Island Lake). Dad spent many “Goose Seasons” at Dymond Lake and loved that time up there, he met lots of people and had lots of stories, he even survived a plane crash with just a broken arm!

Dad is survived by his Children Debbie Blanchette, Crystal Bjorndalen (Wayne), Carmelle Paddock (Brent) and remembered by his grandchildren, Coral (Luis), Kelsey (Richard), April (Shawn), Mitchell (Celine), Cole (Sydney) and Kyra (Ryan), his great grandchildren Kensey, Alizee and Emmett. Dad was predeceased by his loving wife Louise, his parents Alfred and Christin, his older siblings Florence, Tom, Clifford, and his beloved sons Ronnie and Clifford.

Dad will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was humble and had a guiding presence with his wisdom and unwavering dedication to family that will live on in the hearts of those he touched. Though his passing leaves a void that cannot be filled, we find solace in knowing he’s reunited with his loved ones. His memory will continue to inspire and guide us, and his legacy of love and strength will forever remain in our hearts. Rest in Peace Dad, we love you, it’s your turn to rest now.

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