Obituary of Jimmy W. Enns

Saddened by the loss, but in celebration of a wonderful life, the family of Dr. Jimmy W. Enns announce the passing of their beloved husband, father and grandfather at the age of 84, on the 30th of September 2019. Dad was born at Green Farm near Winkler, MB on October 13, 1934, the second of six children to Jon and Helena Enns (nee Hildebrand). In 1951, at the young age of 17, he ventured to Winnipeg to pursue and then achieve a degree in Medicine from the University of Manitoba. In 1959, Dad met and fell in love with our Mom, Joan (nee Serviss) while interning at the Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver, BC, and on October 10, 1960 in Niverville, MB they were married. Dad's medical career started in Grandview, MB in 1961 and after four years as a General Practitioner, he decided to head back to school and specialize. His first choice was Neurology, but as folklore tells us, he was not accepted at McGill University because he was unshaven for his interview! He returned to his alma mater, University of Manitoba, and in 1968, graduated with his FRCPC in Internal Medicine. Upon graduation, Dad and Mom packed up the family (four kids – aged 18 months to 5 years) plus the dog and travelled down the highway to Brandon where Dad started his practice at the Brandon Clinic until his retirement in 1999. Dad was a fourth generation Canadian-Mennonite and understood the importance and benefit of hard work and community; he was not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty be it building the garage on our 14th Street home, remodeling the interior of the cottage at Brandosa Beach or volunteering at Park Community Centre as the ice maker, rink board builder or hockey coach. Dad appreciated the progress of creating new projects and restoring old; he would spend many an hour downstairs in his work shop on his lathe and other wood working tools. Dad was a longtime member of the Molson Pioneers Hockey Team; he felt it was a privilege to be part of this organization which represented all things Dad felt strongly about: work ethic, fellowship, community plus good and fair play in sport. Dad wore his Pioneer jersey and jacket with great pride. Dad was very active, encouraging and included all four of us children to be part of these activities such as attending church, reading, photography, building, hunting, wood working, cross country skiing, water skiing, music, golf and travel. Mom and Dad enjoyed travel and were able to achieve some of this wish prior to Mom's passing in 1989. After Mom's passing, Dad married Roberta (Dolff) in 1994; the two continued Dad's enjoyment of travel and spending time at the cottage during the summer months. Dad taught us the values of hard work, respect, and compassion for those less fortunate. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his children Russell (Sarah Swires), Lizann (Ken Schneider), Lauren (Kelly Glowa) and Leigh (Matt Owen) stepson, Elliott Oleson and his grandchildren Simon and Adam Scott, and Samantha Filuk-Enns, Dustin (Ashley and Theodore), Mark (Alyse) and Hope Schneider, Kirsten (Brett Kobe), Paige and Morgan (Josh Schuller), Jillian and Rhys Owen and Kier and Mikhail Oleson. Dad was predeceased by both his wives Joan (Serviss) in 1989 and Roberta (Dolff) in 2017, parents Jon and Helena Enns, brother Randy Enns, and sister Viola Cain. We would like to thank the nursing staff and hospitalists at the Palliative Care Unit of Brandon Regional Health Centre for the wonderful care given to Dad and the compassion and thoughtfulness displayed to us as a family. Thank you to Dr. Duncan and Dr. Groves for the house calls and to Dean Don Bernhardt of St. Matthew's Cathedral for the visits to Dad's home as well to the Palliative Care Unit. Thank you, Dad, for providing your quiet and humble guidance, your unwavering support and unconditional love. You and your smile will be missed. As per Dad's wishes, a private family Celebration of his life will be held on October 12, 2019. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of our father, Dr. Jimmy Enns, to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 17th St. E., Brandon, MB., R7A 7M6, and the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, "Palliative Care", 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3. "Take my hand and come with me; your work here is done."