Obituary of Charles Sutcliffe

To view the Celebration of Charles' Life, please CLICK HERE

Charles Edward Sutcliffe was born at Reston, MB on Good Friday, April 23, 1943, to Hartley and Elizabeth Sutcliffe. He was the tenth of thirteen children, and the first boy in the family.

He passed away at the Assiniboine Center in Brandon, MB on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 after a two year struggle with sarcoma.

Charles is survived by his loving wife Gloria and four children: Darren, Sharlette (Darran) Paddock, Steven, and Murray (Kirstin), and five grandchildren: Caleb and Hannah Paddock, and Ryah, Chloe and Madeline Sutcliffe.

He is also survived by nine siblings: Mary Forsyth, Irene Hannem, Joan Williams, Clara Storen, Edna Nixon, Reta Addison, Thelma McEvoy, John Sutcliffe and Lynda Stephenson, and their families.

He grew up on the farm south of Reston, where he developed a love for working the soil, fixing machinery and tending farm animals. An avid hunter, he and his brother John looked forward to the fall hunting season each year and had many tales to tell of their hunting experiences.

He was a horse lover from childhood, and during his farming years, he raised a small herd of Tennessee Walking horses, of which he was very proud. He broke them to saddle and to harness, spending many an enjoyable hour with them in the corrals. He was delighted when his oldest granddaughter took up riding, because none of his children had shown interest.

After his farming years, he became a long haul trucker, and for ten years, he and Gloria criss-crossed the country, with their family never knowing from one day to the next where their parents really were. In the days before cellphones, phone calls were few and far between.

Charles was known for his easy laughter and his open friendliness; he could strike up a conversation with anyone. He had a delightful sense of humour and a quick wit, and amused his nieces and nephews, and later his grandchildren, with his antics.

He took much pleasure in hosting people in his home, and his pancakes were renowned from the West Coast to Europe, as he never lost an opportunity to whip up a batch of apple or blueberry pancakes to impress whatever guest was present.

He was a strong man in both body and character, and a man of faith in God. He was loyal and faithful, sensitive and resilient. He handled the rough patches of life with courage and fortitude, and earned the respect of his children and the undying love of his wife.

He will be very much missed, but his legacy of love and laughter will go on.

A funeral services will be held at Brockie Donovan Funeral Home, 332 - 8th St, Brandon, MB on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. There will be a reception to follow, at the Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, MB. The service will be live-streamed for those unable to attend.

At his request, cremation has taken place and a private interment at Reston Cemetery will be held at a later date.