Obituary of Walter Earl Gregory

GREGORY: Walter Earl Gregory, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side, on April 10, 2017, at the age of 80 years. Predeceased by wife Lynda, mother Martha, infant sister Ruthie, brother Derrick, sister Verna, and brother Stanley. Survived by companion, Shirley, daughters Michele and Hayley, grandchildren Alicia and Jesse, mother-in-law Mary, brother-in-law and sister-in- law Duncan and Judith, step-daughters Terri (Gord) and Tanis, Uncle Bert, Aunt Sophie and numerous nieces and nephews. Wally was born in Erickson, MB to Martha Andruniak on July 25, 1936. Wally grew up in Minnedosa spending summers on his grandmother's farm at Kerrs Lake. During his early years in Minnedosa, Wally worked as pin setter at the bowling alley before the process was automated. He also did many odd jobs including delivering groceries and papers and cleaning the printing shop after school. He left Minnedosa in 1950 to seek his fortune and establish his own Wally World. In 1954, after spending two years in Portage, he received his Certificate in Power Engineering and took a job at the Brandon Mental Hospital. It was here he met and married Brenda Pryznyk with whom he made the world a better place by having two beautiful, funny, gifted girls, Michele and Hayley. Wally worked at Headingley Jail for years before coming to Brandon in 1974 to take a position at ACC as Chief Engineer. In 1982, he transferred to Brandon Correctional Institute as building manager and remained there until his retirement in 1996. Wally had a wide variety of interests. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, handyman, cook and story teller. He enjoyed gardening, travelling and his winters down in Arizona. He was involved in bowling here in Brandon for years, both five and ten pin, as a bowler and a coach. He took up golfing later on and very much enjoyed his golf cart and the 19th hole. Dad also had a creative side; he liked to write and decorate. In November of 2016, Wally was diagnosed with liver and lung cancer. He decided not to pursue treatment and faced his illness bravely and without complaint. A Celebration of Wally's Life will be held at the Brockie Donovan Chapel, 332-8th Street, on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Joe Ball officiating. Interment will take place at the Madford Cemetery at a later date. "He lived life by his own rules."