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Albert (Al) H Minnings
May 2, 1922 - August 15, 2015
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Our loving husband and father died at RJH following a long decline.
Born in Lanigan, SK and raised on a farm, he joined the Regina Rifles and fought in Europe during WWII. He survived the D-Day Juno Beach invasion, for which he was presented with the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur, France’s highest honour, by the Consul General of France in Vancouver on the 70th anniversary of D-Day. He was wounded some days after the initial offensive and when recovering in England he met his future wife, Olive (Green) before returning to the field to join the push to liberate the Netherlands.
Al and Olive married August 22, 1946, in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, England. Al returned to Canada (Victoria, BC) and was joined by Olive a few months later. They choose Victoria because Al’s parents, Henry Anthony and Ellen (nee Hathaway) had moved to there during the war years.
Al worked in heavy construction from 1947 and continued until his retirement in 1992. He was the cement foreman on many buildings on the Island and around BC (such as BC Law Courts, Victoria General Hospital, University of Victoria, BC Museum and Archives, UBC). When the Netherlands Centennial Carillon Tower was erected in 1967, Al assisted with the installation of the 49 bells and received a miniature bell in appreciation.
Al was an active member of the South Van Isle Lion’s Club and held many positions and served on many committees (Camp Shawnigan, Victoria Telethon, Zone Chairman). He was one of the founders of Lions Cove and actively promoted the ideal of being able to age in place with dignity. Al spent many years as a volunteer at Heritage Acres (Saanich Historical Artifacts Society). He was an active man in addition to his considerable volunteer work. Al loved to fish and he and Olive travelled with their trailer over much of western Canada and US. When he did sit down, Al loved to watch hockey, sometimes several games simultaneously.
Al is survived by his wife Olive, daughter Jill (Bruce), son Kevin John (Anne) brother William (Phyllis), granddaughters Kathryn (Simon), Atlantis (Jeff) and Amber (Samuel) and great grandchildren: Micha, Charlie, Bailey, Owen and Finnigan.
A celebration of Al’s life will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at 2:00 pm Grace Baptist Church, 2731 Matson Rd., Langford, off Goldstream Ave., Pastor Don Johnson presiding. Condolences may be sent through Care Funeral Services (www.carefuneral.com). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Al’s memory to Camp Shawnigan through the BC Lion’s Society (www.lionsbc.ca).
