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Arnold Bruce McLeod died on the morning of February 24th, 2014, at Kootenay Lake Hospital, surrounded by family in Nelson, British Columbia.

Born on April 4th, 1929, and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Arnold attended Daniel McIntyre Collegiate and the University of Manitoba before securing a job with HFC Financial. Arnold accepted a transfer with this company on a two year trial basis to Fort Frances, Ontario. He ended up staying for 36 years, raising a family with his wife Jeannette. Arnold later retired to Nelson, British Columbia, where he lived until his death.

Arnold’s passions in life were many, from chess to soccer, basketball to Roman history, Latin to bird-watching, geography to military history; but none more than his love for his wife of 62 years, Jeannette.

Arnold was always ready to exchange greetings, share stories or a friendly tease with, what seemed at times, everyone he encountered in the various phases and geography of his life. He was often referred to as a man about town as he seemed to know everyone as he walked down the street or entered a coffee house.

Arnold always made a point of finding out and remembering everyone’s name, from the server in a restaurant to the owner of a business or a homeless drifter who he happened to exchange a moment with.

Arnold’s life was guided by a number of precepts. In the social realm, Arnold would never be quick to judgement, although not religious, he would cite the biblical prescript, everyone has a cross to bear. This translated into a generous and conspicuous greeting or joke with all who he encountered.

As a guide to his actions and ambitions, Arnold aspired to follow and would cite the aphorism carpe diem (seize the day) ...as one could never assume that tomorrow was promised. Woven throughout the application of these life precepts was Arnold’s wonderful and infectious sense of humour; a wit and appreciation of humour that helped him navigate any difficult times encountered throughout his almost 85 years of life.

Arnold’s philosophy exhibited itself in his devotion to his surviving wife, Jeannette, three sons, Bruce, Bryan and Brad, daughter, Michelle, son and daughter-in-laws, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as countless friends and extended family all over the world. His favourite poet is apropos;


An honest man here lies at rest,

The friend of man, the friend of truth,

The friend of age, and guide of youth:

Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,

Few heads with knowledge so inform’d;

If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;

If there is none, he made the best of this.

Robert Burns

Arnold was a wonderful man who lived a good life and will be greatly missed, as he was so loved by all who knew him. A celebration of his life will be held in the summer of 2014 in Nelson, British Columbia.

Arnold’s ashes will be spread over Elephant Mountain in the Kooteneys, Swell Bay at Bear Pass on Rainy Lake, and where the Red River meets the Assiniboine.

Ar adeis De go raibh a anan (Gaelic for may his soul be on the Right Hand of the gods)

Online condolences may be expressed at

www.thompsonfs.ca

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.



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