Merlin Leonard Lamb

Merlin Leonard Lamb   

     Merlin Leonard Lamb, 91, of Portage la Prairie passed away at Portage General Hospital on July 14, 2018.

     Merlin leaves to mourn his death, his wife of 69 years Audrey (nee Stevenson), daughters Vicki Wright (Garry), and Sandra Wood (Dale), daughter-in-law Joy Lamb (nee Foster), grandchildren Lori Wood (Doyle Moar), Mitch Wood (Jenna), Kurt Wood (Carley), Lindsey Goderis (Jason), and Hailey Wright (Neil Fogg), great-grandchildren Atlee and Chase Wood, Lauren Moar, Everly Goderis, and Ian Wood.  Merlin was pre-deceased by his parents Roland and Jessie Lamb, his beloved son Keith Steven Lamb, brother Doug Lamb, Doug’s wife Dot, his brothers-in-law Artie Stevenson (Lena) and Earl Stevenson (Emma), and his cousin Dunc Lamb, who was like a second brother.

     Merlin was born Sept 17, 1926 on the family farm north of MacGregor.  He went to school in MacGregor and learned how to run a general store working for his Uncle Bob.  Merlin served for a time in the Canadian Army during WWII.  He married Audrey Elaine Stevenson in 1949 and together they owned and operated Lamb’s Solo Store in Austin for 21 years.  The family moved to Portage in 1969.  Merlin worked for the Portage Co-op and later sold real estate until his retirement.  Friends were very important to Merlin; he and Audrey loved nothing better than socializing with their Austin, MacGregor, and Portage friends until the sun came up the morning after a dance.  In his retirement, he enjoyed volunteering his time as a driver for Cancer Care, and working on a committee for the ongoing care and maintenance of Beaver Creek Cemetery. 

     Merlin lived with a common-sense approach to life and taught his children and grandchildren valuable lessons.  When a potentially bad idea was concocted, he would always laugh, then insist on letting the sun come up on it at least once before putting it in motion.  When he gave a grandchild twenty dollars, he would smile and tell them “if you don’t spend it, you’ll always have twenty bucks”.

     In accordance with his wishes, a private family interment will take place at Beaver Creek Cemetery at a later date.  Donations in Merlin’s memory may be made to Central Plains Cancer Services; www.centralplainscancerservices.com or a charity of own choice.

     Messages of condolences can be made online at www.omegafuneralhome.com

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