Obituary of William Dale Heenan
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HEENAN, William “Bill” Dale
1929 – 2023
The family of Bill Heenan announces his passing on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Emmanuel Villa Care Home in Emerald Park, SK, at the age of 93 years.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 70 years, Eleanor; his son Dale (Deb); his daughter Deb; grandchildren Jonathon, Becky (Mike) Wiebe, Caleb (Tyne) and Ben; great-grandchildren Emma, Lincoln, and Isla Wiebe; as well as extended family and friends.
Bill was predeceased by his parents William and Annie and his brother Gordon.
Bill was born on June 2,1929, in Regina SK to William and Annie (White) Heenan. He went to elementary school in Grand Coulee and then attended the University of Saskatchewan where he received his diploma in Vocational Agriculture in 1949. Bill then returned to Grand Coulee to farm with his father who had immigrated from County Down, Northern Ireland in 1912. On March 7th, 1953, Bill married the love of his life Eleanor Threlfall from the neighboring community of Pense, SK and they welcomed their son Dale in 1954, and their daughter Deb in 1955. Bill often reminisced with his family about his early years of farming, driving a taxicab and successfully selling Wearever Cookware in Regina. His desire to see the farm run efficiently led them to manufacture their own brand of Heenan augers and drill fills, which he promoted and sold in Canada and other countries.
In 1979 Bill and Eleanor organized a farm tour to China which left a lasting impression on all who accompanied them. Bill sat on the Board of the Canadian and Sask Seed Growers Association, Coop Hail Insurance, Sask Crop Insurance, Sask Wheat Pool Com, Canadian Western Agribition Grain Show, PIMA, PAMI, Palliser Wheat Growers Assoc, Flax Growers Assoc and the Conservative party of Saskatchewan. Bill was involved in, and member of his local United Church, Grand Coulee School Board, El Zareba Shrine Temple in Phoenix, El Doulab Antique Car Unit, Corinthian Masonic Lodge #72, Regina, and WaWa Shrine Temple. He and Eleanor spent 26 winters in their home in Sun Lakes, Arizona where they also took in many sporting events, collecting autographs and memorabilia. He was very proud of his 1950s Cadillac collection and spent many hours in the shop restoring and fine tuning each of them.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at Riverbend Memory Care, Regina, SK and more recently Emmanuel Villa, Emerald Park, SK, for their loving care and compassion over the last six years.
Visitation will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Order of Eastern Star Service will follow at 7:30 p.m. with daughter Deb presiding.
A Celebration of Life and Masonic Service will be held at Spears Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Ave, Regina Sk. on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
Interment to follow at Riverside Memorial Park, 815 Assiniboine Ave East, Regina Sk.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to WA WA Shriners Temple Patient Transportation Fund, 2065 Hamilton Street, Regina, SK S4P 2E1 or Grand Coulee United Church, 102 Railway Avenue, Grand Coulee, SK S4M 0A3.
To view the livestream of the service or to leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com.
