From: Denise Perron
A Special Sunday Drive in 1974
When I was growing up, my Dad reserved Sundays for our family. It usually started with my dad getting up and waking us up for church. He would holler downstairs to me and Danny saying “Daylight in the Swamp!” He was of course talking about the condition of Danny’s room :) (mine was more like a flower garden)! He would then cook us breakfast sometimes which was memorable and very delicious. Bacon and eggs with the most amazing hash browns he took pride in making himself, Egg on a Raft, or Pancakes.
Then he often had an outing planned. He would present it with so much enthusiasm like it was going to be the event of the year. Sometimes we would go fishing, for a ride in the boat or often a ride down a country road that he just so happened to be working on or in the process of building! In the winter we would be taken on one of his famous winter picnics. Part of the day included just one little job for us or him.
One autumn Sunday afternoon he told us he was going to take us for a drive up north. My auntie Margie had not lived in Sioux Lookout for very long and she was invited to join us. She had not yet understood that many things my dad did had a mischievous quality to it especially the Sunday outing.
We started down the beautiful northern road on that fall day. It was sunny and bright and we stopped a few places to check for blueberries or watch for a partridge. After a while of driving thou the road got rougher and rougher and in some places we wondered if it was a road anymore. My mom was complaining about the potential damage to the bottom of her beautiful peacock colored car. We were all getting tired and hungry. My dad acknowledged our complaints telling us not to worry that he was going to get us a thick juicy hamburger shortly. He went on to describe how delicious and huge this hamburger would be. As we continued bumping along in the car, my aunt Margie started getting upset with him complaining he was teasing us when we were really hungry. She pleaded for him to stop this torture. My dad turned to her and smiled his only too familiar smile of contentment. He had us in just the right spot, and he was loving it. Just then the car hit blacktop and we all got very quiet. A moment later we arrived at a cabin looking building with the sign “The Silver Dollar INN”.
If you ever had the chance to go to the Silver Dollar in around 1974 they made these huge hamburgers called Silver Dollar Burgers. Well the laugh was on my dad that day because he had to buy 7 of them!!
Fast Forward to our summer visit in 2019. My dad was no longer driving and he was upset about it. My husband Thomas asked him where he would like to go for a drive. He smiled and said he knew just the spot we could get a real juicy hamburger!! We drove down that now paved road and enjoyed the smile on his face at the end of the road when he got to order his Silver Dollar Burger!
I cherish those Sunday memories dad and so many more. You were such a good and fun loving dad. May you rest in awake pure light with no swamp in sight. Love Denise
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From: Louis and Donna Prior
It is with a heavy heart that I write these words about my very good friend and neighbour. We always had fun doing different tasks together, whether it was putting in or taking out the docks - with or without Kai's help, or building a dock with OD or working on the bobcat float we always had a laugh. We always finished every task with a refreshment to celebrate our achievements.
He used to tell me I did a better job of cutting the grass along Boulder Drive than he did. I think he would say that so he wouldn't have to cut the grass. That was okay with me as I enjoyed running the tractor. I miss the evening get togethers with his friends E.J. Facca, Ray Lacroix and Knowles. It was always a time filled with discussion and laughter. Just a few of the fond memories I will have of Wilf.
It was during my many frequent visits that I got to know his family which he loved so much. When Denise and Thomas came to town Wilf would have a list of things for Thomas to do. I was always made to feel that I was part of his family (with my list of things to do! lol)
From: Howard Lockhart
One of my best experiences since coming to Sioux Lookout in 1975 was traveling to Winnipeg with Wilf to see a Boxcar Willie concert. Never laughed so much and enjoyed being with a friend as much.
RIP Wilf, your contribution to this community will be around for a long time. When you see Box, tell him I said hello. lol
That night Boxcar might as well have been The Beatles, Bono and the Eagles all turned into a box car.
From: William Clarke
I remember working on a work train in the eighties. Wilf had the contract to that job and had some big equipment out on the line.Someone had mentioned to him that they wanted a foundation done. Well a little time went by, and the long weekend was coming up. The work crew was getting the long weekend off.So l thought to myself, gee why don't l do Wilf a favour and get that loader on a flat car. We can get it into Sioux fri night.Then Wilf can get that foundation done sat & sun, and we will have him back on line by Tuesday morning. Well everything goes to plan and l see Wilf tues morning. How did it go l says, did you get that foundation done. Oh ya he says we got that done all right. But Bill you have to understand, I made five hundred working the long weekend. But the company would have paid me fifteen hundred to just have left my machine idle on the line. Man l was some embarrassed, but you know Wilf had such class.He laughed about it, and made me feel a lot better. I know l would have lost it if it had been me. Wilf taught me some good life lessons. l loved the man, and always looked up to him. May he Rest In Peace.
From: Sue Mittleholt
Wilf (Mr. Perron) touched a lot of people’s lives, including mine. When I last seen him, he gave me the biggest smile and introduced me as his Daughters friend. I will never forget that smile! Sincere condolences to the family.
From: Don Clace
story of respect
When Wilf and family moved to Sioux they purchased 37 wellington from my grandfather Abe Mickleson.
Shortly after Wilf gave me my first summer job help to build his shop, in the years to follow I had many dealing with wilf and in his passing I still have a great respect for him and his wife.
P.S/ no one will ever have a dump truck race in town again right Marlene.
Again my condolences to his family
From: Anne R. Saltel
Wilf was always the business man
willing to barter even when it
came to his kids.
We had moved to Drayton Rd.
I was a stay at home mom.
I wanted our driveway plowed and he wanted his daughter tutored in math.
I said no. Wilf said no. Eventually we
both got what we wanted. Ended up tutoring for quite some time.
Wilf, you will be missed.
Rest in Peace.
From: Sandra MacLeod
Wilf Perron
Wilf was a person who deserved deep respect,
not from his person but by standards he set.
He pushed himself hard his whole life through,
and by perseverance his little business grew.
No job was too big nor too small to take on,
he loved helping people from daylight til dawn.
For when equipment shut down
and trucks parked for the day,
he'd head to the bush to float Skidders for pay.
Or he'd work on big contracts
for the Forrestry or CN,
his candle burned bright right up to the end.
Admired for his ethics and hand-writing skills,
his English was perfect,
his French accent was stilled.
Which to his benefit came in handy at times,
he shocked a few Frenchmen
when he turned on a dime.
He'd never get angry, he'd just smile and say
"What Mother Nature giveth
-Father Time takes away".
He was a man of high standards
who never got to "Wits end",
he loved his family dearly
as well as his friends.
I lift my glass high as I bid him farewell,
for Heaven is a place
where all good Spirits dwell.
R.I.P Wilf
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From: Rachel Martyn
So sorry for your family's loss. Uncle Wilf will truly be missed. I will never forget his happy go lucky spirit, his laughter and his never ending smile.
From: Pat & Paul DE CRAENE
Our most sincere condolences at this time. I will never forget the ride that Wilf gave his brother Paul and I going over the Arlington St. bridge in Winnipeg in his blue 56 Buick. I'm still trembling.
From: Ron & Carol Maxwell
Marlene and Family
I was surprised and so saddened to see Wilf's memorial card at the store the other day. Who would have thought Dad would outlive one of his best buddies? They spent countless hours together especially having a "short one" at their Mile 7 camps. Although Dad's short term memory is non-existent whenever I talked to him about Wilf he always remembers him. I am glad I was able to get Dad over for a few visits in the driveway the past couple years.
I'm sure Dad could write a book about some of the shenanigans he and Wilf got into. Mom loved Wilf and always said he was the perfect gentleman. His broad smile, generous heart and rosy cheeks will never be forgotten.
So sorry for you all. Sending all our warmest thoughts and sympathy.
From: Danny Perron
Dad,
I will never Hear the sound of tires humming down the road without thinking of you, as we spent endless hours together when you would take me to work as a child. I would fall asleep listening to that sound.
I will never pass a truck and not think of the big smile on your face whenever you would pull up to a jobsite in one of your trucks.
I will miss your stories of the past and of your many friends.
I will miss learning from your vast knowledge bank.
I will miss catching fish on the dock until you would say that is enough, I am not cleaning anymore.
I will miss going for our Saturday rides and dump runs.
I will miss calling you and asking what you were doing and you responding, just waiting for you to call.
Most of all I will Miss you!
Love always
Danny
From: Nicole Perron
Dad:
Thank you for so much, for the life you gave me and all the lessons learned... which were many!
Everyday since you passed the memories roll into my head of all the things we said and did together.. and mostly what you taught me.. work hard, love hard and never give up!
I thank you for being so involved in my life from teaching me how to drive, ride and care for our horses, goat, rabbits, dogs and wild cats that you brought home from work sites and for being there soon after both your grand daughters were born. You were the best grand father to them as well.
You smiled and loved and had a great life and I will miss your advice that always made perfect sense when you gave it.
Rest In Peace Dad I will always love you and will see you on the other side.
From: Thomas
Wilf liked to do projects as everyone knows. Whether it was with Louis, Danny or Fred. I also had the pleasure of being assigned a couple of projects when I visited him in the summer. One year it was screening sand in the pit, the next it was building a dock at the camp. If you needed an extra pair of hands or tools were needed, Louis would be there.
One time, when Wilf was visiting us, we got to talking about an old oil tank that was in our house. It had been installed lying on it’s side under the stairs and the rest of the space was used as a closet. Basically, the stairs and the walls had been erected after the tank was put in. That must have seemed like a great idea at that time the house was built. But now, 40 years later, with the tank out of commission how to remove it? Two contractors had told me that I would have to take out the wall next to the oil tank. The next day after I had told Wilf about the tank, he said he’d though about it all night and he’d figured we’d have to saw it into three parts to get it out through the closet door. And that is how it happened. Afterwards I cleaned everything up with my shopvac. Now, 12 years later, even though I have changed the filter and cleaned the shopvac many times it still smells of oil every time I use it. And then I will inevitably think of Wilf and another great project we had together. I miss Wilf and am glad to have had the opportunity to get to know and spend as much time with him as I did.
From: Paula Perron
Dad,
As I read the notes of my siblings to you I tear up inside because they have expressed so well how much our time with you will be missed and how you were such a good father.
I remember when I was a teenager and you took me to St. Vital shopping centre in you semi truck with trailer. We entered just before the mall opened to go for breakfast and shopping but we came out to a parking lot full of cars parked all around your semi! I remember your expression like it was yesterday how you smiled and shook your head in surprise. Even though it looked impossible to drive off that lot that day, how you handled this challenge taught me the most important lesson of my life. First you put me to work :) by showing me how to direct traffic as we waited patiently for people to move their cars. Inch by inch with your skilled driving we were set free. I hopped back in and we drove away with laughter and relief!
Precious Dad you taught me that day to never give up and to find away to make the impossible possible and that is what I am passionate about today. Thank you for all your love, support and teaching. I’m so proud to say you are my Dad!
I know we are never apart as you are always in my heart.
Love,
Paula
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From: Jean Hanson (Davidson)
Marlene & family,
George and I were saddened to hear of Wilf's passing. Though we have not always remained in touch with each other we were always connected as cousins and family. Lately I have connected with Denise on Ancestry doing family history where she was able to share valuable information with me. I felt connected again with you so George and I want to send you all our deepest sympathies. We know it is a great loss to you all.
These are some of my memories:
- As young cousins we visited often back and forth from Transcona to St Boniface. Wilf or Snookie as we knew him always took time to be considerate and gentle with Pat and I while the other boys roughhoused.
- In 1950 during the Red River flood his family came and lived with us in Transcona, and went to school there for a period of time.
- As teenagers I remember his love of music and dancing when he came to Friday night teen dances. He was always laughing and having fun.
- On Xmas Day our family always stopped and visited with his family to share Xmas cheer. His smile along with Auntie Melina's smile made the day special.
Take care and stay safe,
Love forever and always,
George & Jean
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From: Dick McIntyre
Wilf was my kind of man. He was always interested in helping other people doing whatever it was. He always had an easier, bigger, better way of doing things especially he could use machinery. Wilf snowed ploughed for us for years. Then when I was going to build on the lake Wilf was the first person I thought of for the job. As soon as the snow started to melt I was on Wilf's case to be the first basement dug that year. Finally, Wilf conceded and showed up with his equipment with his big smile. After unloading he started right in hammering on the frozen ground just like he told me. He and I had a head to head about continuing or waiting a couple of weeks. Of course, his side of the argument won when mentioned the extra cost it would cost me. He loaded up and waved goodbye. He did return when he knew it would be ready and proceeded. This time we ran into springs gushing water like crazy. He looked at me and said don't worry I have lots of rock in my pit and I can fix it. Just get your wallet out it won't be cheap. My first over expenditure was the basement hole before I even started. Wilf said he would fix it so I would not have a water problem and dug a ditch and put in a big culvert, "problem solved". Wilf was honest to the core and always gave you choices but made sure you knew what he thought which was usually the correct way but expensive. Wilf had years of knowledge and experience which was always exemplary. If he had a problem pop up he just fixed and carried on until the job and problem were eliminated. So Wilf tended to everything I needed to finish my home by Christmas.
Now I had a hill to contend with so I ask Wilf how we fixed that and his solution was his front end loader. May mornings the windows in the house were rattling before I was ever out of bed. Wilf had come and gone and my laneway looked like an expressway but I was never able to use the excuse I was snowed in.
There was only one thing Wilf and I never saw eye to eye. I love trees around the new house. Wilf would say "You sure you want that one to stay? It will only cause problems later." I would keep it but somehow his machine would take a small knick out the tree. In a couple of years, I would be calling Wilf back to make sure tree never hit the house. He would say " what about that other one" with his little smirk. He never did say he told me I should have removed it. He would just knock it down and pull where I could chop it up. As he was leaving he always had the big grin with a devilish twinkle in his eye and a big wave goodbye. I will see you again soon.
I also liked to sit with Wilf and listen to him and his cronies talk about his experiences on the job. Some times he would stop for a coffee or a little nip if he was done for the day. Just one great person all wrapped into one genuine person.
We will miss you, Wilf.
From: Rodina Braden
To Marlene and all the family:
My deepest condolences to each of you as you grieve the loss of Wilf. I heard so much about Wilf long before I ever met him. My husband Victor had a great admiration and pride for Wilf and Marlene and what they had accomplished in their lives and he spoke often of them with fondness. He shared memories with me over the years and I met Denise long before I met her Dad and Mom. Denise came to Nova Scotia and Stayed with us for a short time until she got situated in the city Halifax to work and further her university education. I was so impressed that this young woman could travel on her own across the country, camping along the way and was ready to start a new life in a new province. I realized at that time Denise had to have come from really good stock!! As Vic often said “what’s in cat is in the kittens.” Later I had the pleasure of spending time with Denise and her parents during visits to Nova Scotia. During one visit Wilf and Marlene wanted us to come to the city and stay over night. With young children and very little for extras that was not possible but Denise called me to say Mom and Dad want you here so dad said you are to come stay at the Cambridge Suites and Wilf he will cover the cost. That was such a very sweet thing to do and it meant a great deal to us in more ways then Wilf and Marlene may ever have realized. I remember Wilf had a most contagious smile and liked to tease. A recent picture of her dad and Victor triggered a memory for Denise which she shared with me about a visit by her dad to Nova Scotia. In the picture Victor and her dad were wearing wide grins and as she said we were all feeling really bad for Wilf because when we stopped at a restaurant to eat he couldn’t find anything he liked and didn’t eat. A little later, when up on beautiful Cape Blomidon over looking the scenic Annapolis Valley, Wilf decided he needed a huge ice cream cone to fill that empty spot after no lunch. We all waited in line, Wilf ahead he leaves returns a bit late to say his ice cream had fallen off the cone to the ground. Geez what luck, all of us were only too willing for him to replace the lost ice cream and were feeling bad because he was having a real bad day. Later someone had captured Vic and Wilf laughing and enjoying their ice cream only to find out after a confession it was Wilf’s second huge cone! He really got a kick of pulling that one over on us!! My heart goes out to all of you! I know your wonderful memories of Wilf and the love you share will be a comfort in the years to come and will honour the memory of a good husband, dad, granddad, brother and friend. You know Marlene, they say behind every good man is a good woman. Blessings to you and yours. ️
Love and peace Rodina Braden