Obituary for Marsden Don Fenwick
Marsden Don Fenwick
January 25, 1937 - January 17, 2021
Peacefully, with wife Susan by his side, and family in constant virtual contact, Marsden went home to his Saviour, Jesus Christ.
He leaves behind Susan (née Sharpe) his wife of 59 years (plus eight years of dating!), children David, Nancy Vamvakas (Elias) and Jane Queree (Justin), and 10 amazing grandchildren Kate, Julia, Liza and Jennifer Fenwick, Olivia, Megan and Michael Vamvakas, and David, William and Sarah Queree. Also survived by his brother, Jim Fenwick of Ottawa, ON and sister Mary Barker of Royston, BC.
One of four children to a single mother, he learned the importance of hard work early on, working all through high school in the Eaton’s bakery and delivering newspapers to help support the family. He offset all this hard work with some mischievous activity alongside his childhood buddies (pretty sure making nitroglycerin in the School Science Lab is not on the curriculum!). In Grade 11, he received an invitation to the Sadie Hawkins Dance by a beautiful Grade 9 student, one Susan Sharpe! Marsden quickly became a fixture at the Sharpe household and the rest is history!!
After graduating from Kelvin High School, Marsden earned his Chartered Accountant designation with Clarkson Gordon, before joining father-in-law George Sharpe in the family business, Sharpe’s Ltd. His time running Sharpe’s Ltd. took him all over Manitoba for business, and warm sunny destinations around North America for AC Delco Distributor conventions.
With the closing of Sharpe’s in 1985, Marsden began a new career in Financial Management, and discovered a whole new passion for the Stock Market. For the next 30 plus years, he managed family and friend accounts with great pleasure and great success.
A proud Winnipeg, Manitoba citizen, Marsden lived and served faithfully in many capacities with generosity, commitment and passion. He served as an Aide de Comp to Lieutenant Governor William John McKeag from 1970 to 1976. He coached all levels of hockey for over 15 years, bringing discipline, manners and skills to dozens of young players. He served at Westminster United Church for over 50 years in a variety of roles, serving as a Member of the Foundation Committee for many years, until his passing.
Marsden made friends wherever he went and supported local business and organizations enthusiastically. (The Squash Club, The Winnipeg Winter Club, Winnipeg Jets, Blue Bombers, The Bakers’ Dozen, St. Charles Country Club, Oscars, Bridge Drive Inn, 529, The Assiniboine Park Cafe, Salisbury House). He replaced mischievous activity for guided adventures with family and special friends, such as snowmobiling from Winnipeg to St. Paul, MN, annual ski trips to Big Mountain, Montana (learning to ski in his 40’s), golfing (he found more balls than he ever lost!), and dog-sledding in Alaska (three times!).
But Marsden’s greatest love and passion was saved for his family. He was a family man through and through, delighting in the achievements of his children and grandchildren, and offering support and encouragement in their disappointments and trials. His favourite role was “Buppa”, and together with Amma, racked up lots of Frequent Flyer points travelling regularly from Vancouver to Calgary to Toronto, to watch hockey, soccer, basketball and volleyball games, walk kids to school, attend dance recitals and Christmas concerts, cheer at graduation ceremonies, cook beef tenderloin or turkey dinners, drive to Dairy Queen to treat everyone and their friends, and go on bike rides or walks. The most cherished times were spent in Maui, his home-away-from-home. Whether he was with his family, or with the friends they met at Ekahi, life was full of beach walks, puu-puus on the Lanai as the sun set, golf, American Thanksgiving turkey dinners, and the daily trips to the mall for ice cream or Itsakadoozies. He called everyone by their Hawaiian name while we were there and referred to himself as King Kameamea!
Marsden/Marsie/Marsbar/Max/Dad/Buppa will be terribly missed by all who knew him, most of all his Family. But we can say with confidence, Aloha....until we meet again.
Due to the pandemic, no memorial service will be held at this time. A Celebration of Life may be held at a future date.
Our Family would like to acknowledge CancerCare Manitoba and Grace Hospital, for their wonderful care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, you may consider supporting their work in Marsden’s memory.
Family invites friends to sign the online book of condolences at ejcoutu.ca
January 25, 1937 - January 17, 2021
Peacefully, with wife Susan by his side, and family in constant virtual contact, Marsden went home to his Saviour, Jesus Christ.
He leaves behind Susan (née Sharpe) his wife of 59 years (plus eight years of dating!), children David, Nancy Vamvakas (Elias) and Jane Queree (Justin), and 10 amazing grandchildren Kate, Julia, Liza and Jennifer Fenwick, Olivia, Megan and Michael Vamvakas, and David, William and Sarah Queree. Also survived by his brother, Jim Fenwick of Ottawa, ON and sister Mary Barker of Royston, BC.
One of four children to a single mother, he learned the importance of hard work early on, working all through high school in the Eaton’s bakery and delivering newspapers to help support the family. He offset all this hard work with some mischievous activity alongside his childhood buddies (pretty sure making nitroglycerin in the School Science Lab is not on the curriculum!). In Grade 11, he received an invitation to the Sadie Hawkins Dance by a beautiful Grade 9 student, one Susan Sharpe! Marsden quickly became a fixture at the Sharpe household and the rest is history!!
After graduating from Kelvin High School, Marsden earned his Chartered Accountant designation with Clarkson Gordon, before joining father-in-law George Sharpe in the family business, Sharpe’s Ltd. His time running Sharpe’s Ltd. took him all over Manitoba for business, and warm sunny destinations around North America for AC Delco Distributor conventions.
With the closing of Sharpe’s in 1985, Marsden began a new career in Financial Management, and discovered a whole new passion for the Stock Market. For the next 30 plus years, he managed family and friend accounts with great pleasure and great success.
A proud Winnipeg, Manitoba citizen, Marsden lived and served faithfully in many capacities with generosity, commitment and passion. He served as an Aide de Comp to Lieutenant Governor William John McKeag from 1970 to 1976. He coached all levels of hockey for over 15 years, bringing discipline, manners and skills to dozens of young players. He served at Westminster United Church for over 50 years in a variety of roles, serving as a Member of the Foundation Committee for many years, until his passing.
Marsden made friends wherever he went and supported local business and organizations enthusiastically. (The Squash Club, The Winnipeg Winter Club, Winnipeg Jets, Blue Bombers, The Bakers’ Dozen, St. Charles Country Club, Oscars, Bridge Drive Inn, 529, The Assiniboine Park Cafe, Salisbury House). He replaced mischievous activity for guided adventures with family and special friends, such as snowmobiling from Winnipeg to St. Paul, MN, annual ski trips to Big Mountain, Montana (learning to ski in his 40’s), golfing (he found more balls than he ever lost!), and dog-sledding in Alaska (three times!).
But Marsden’s greatest love and passion was saved for his family. He was a family man through and through, delighting in the achievements of his children and grandchildren, and offering support and encouragement in their disappointments and trials. His favourite role was “Buppa”, and together with Amma, racked up lots of Frequent Flyer points travelling regularly from Vancouver to Calgary to Toronto, to watch hockey, soccer, basketball and volleyball games, walk kids to school, attend dance recitals and Christmas concerts, cheer at graduation ceremonies, cook beef tenderloin or turkey dinners, drive to Dairy Queen to treat everyone and their friends, and go on bike rides or walks. The most cherished times were spent in Maui, his home-away-from-home. Whether he was with his family, or with the friends they met at Ekahi, life was full of beach walks, puu-puus on the Lanai as the sun set, golf, American Thanksgiving turkey dinners, and the daily trips to the mall for ice cream or Itsakadoozies. He called everyone by their Hawaiian name while we were there and referred to himself as King Kameamea!
Marsden/Marsie/Marsbar/Max/Dad/Buppa will be terribly missed by all who knew him, most of all his Family. But we can say with confidence, Aloha....until we meet again.
Due to the pandemic, no memorial service will be held at this time. A Celebration of Life may be held at a future date.
Our Family would like to acknowledge CancerCare Manitoba and Grace Hospital, for their wonderful care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, you may consider supporting their work in Marsden’s memory.
Family invites friends to sign the online book of condolences at ejcoutu.ca