Kenneth A. McLeod

Kenneth A. “Ken” McLeod was a veteran, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and valued member of the Pavilion of Scotland community.

During the Second World War, Ken served in the Canadian military. In 1943, while travelling by bus from Neepawa to Winnipeg, he offered his seat to a young woman named Nellie Kolesar. That simple gesture began a loving partnership that would endure for more than 65 years.

Ken and Nellie married at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Polonia in 1946. They began their married life in a small home on Pembina Highway in Winnipeg before moving to Rivers, Manitoba, in 1950, where Ken became Assistant Manager of North American Lumber.

In 1952, the family moved to McCreary, where Ken became manager of the local lumber yard. Together, he and Nellie raised their children, Barbara, Patricia, and David, and became active members of the community.

Ken and Nellie shared an adventurous spirit and travelled extensively before and during their retirement. Their journeys took them to Hawaii, Australia, Japan, France, continental Europe, Great Britain, and many other destinations. In 1999, they returned to Winnipeg to be closer to their family.

Proud of his Scottish heritage, Ken volunteered with the Pavilion of Scotland alongside Nellie. Together, they contributed to the fellowship, hospitality, and cultural celebration that made the Pavilion a welcoming gathering place for volunteers and visitors.

Ken was a loving father and grandfather whose life was shaped by loyalty, service, hard work, and devotion to family. He passed away on June 12, 2012, just two days after his 91st birthday and less than eight months after the death of his beloved Nellie.