Arthur Leslie "Les" McCuaig
Les passed away peacefully at the Lions Prairie Manor on June 17th, 2021, with his wife Marg by his side.
Les was born in Portage la Prairie on July 22nd, 1939. He was raised in the Allendale District and attended Allendale School. He met the love of his life, Margaret Scott, when he was 19 and she was 16. They married in 1964 and settled in Overhill District where they raised their two children Casey and Colleen.
Some of the places Les worked were Jessiman Motors in Thunder Bay. He was a dishwasher and gas attendant at Little Portage, he built hydro towers and strung hydro line for Comstock and Dominion Bridge. Les worked in the kettle room making soup at Campbell Soup for six years and hauled concrete for Portage concrete for six years. Les also held other various jobs, all the while operating a cattle farm with horses, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese and one Billy goat with his son till his retirement in 2019.
At a young age Les developed a love of horses. They were his only means of travel until his parents bought a car when he was 19. He enjoyed breaking horses to drive and also helped others break their horses to drive. Dad used his team of horses until 2000 to do the chores. He also gave sleigh/hay rides and attended many cattle and farm auctions. He enjoyed reading, watching Wrestling and going to Wrestling matches every month. He enjoyed country school picnics, ball games and especially movie dates with Marg before the kids were born.
Later in life Dad and Mom went to every concert possible at the William Glesby Centre. Les and Marg loved to travel and cruise the country-side. They travelled to Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, California and all throughout Canada. They both loved old time music and dancing and enjoyed going to various local venues with family and friends. Dad played ball in the Liniment League and also enjoyed curling. He skipped a team in the Burnside League for many years.
Les enjoyed meeting friends and family for coffee and lunches. He was involved in 4H and enjoyed many hours watching his children and grandchildren participating in the local 4H activities as well as many sporting activities. He also enjoyed hunting. Les was very devoted to his family and they always came first.
Les will be sadly missed by his wife Marg, son Casey (Jacquie), daughter Colleen (Todd) and grandchildren Michelle, Travis, Cassandra and Riel. Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in law; Jack Ediger, Ron O Neil, Charlie and Donna Scott, Gerald and Doris Scott, Albert and Sandy Scott, Gayle and Scott Macaulay, along with many nephews, nieces and friends.
Les was predeceased by his parents Gladys and Allan McCuaig and his sister Ivy (Francis), brothers-in law; John and Bobby, sisters-in-law; Nadine, Betty, Shirley, and Beverly.
We wish to thank the staff at The Lions Prairie Manor, the staff at the St. Claude Transitional Care Unit and the Portage & District General Hospital for the excellent care that dad received.
In lieu of flowers should friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to Gainsborough Hall, c/o Tammy Hammersley, Box 61, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3A3 or email transfer: thammersley@hotmail.com.
A Come & Go Visitation will be held on Monday, June 21st from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Omega Funeral Home, 83 Royal Rd. S., Portage la Prairie, MB. Covid 19 restrictions will be in place. A private family service will be held June 22nd, 2021.
Messages of condolences can be made online at www.omegafuneralhome.com
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