GRATTON: Wilfred Leslie "Les" Gratton, beloved husband of Roselle, passed away in the city on Thursday, October 5, 2006. The Funeral Ceremony will be held at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North, on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 1:00pm. Mr. Bernie Mullins will officiate. Interment will follow in the Brandon Cemetery. Donations in memory of Les may be made to Manitoba Lung Association, 8-940 Princess Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 0P6 or to the Humane Society, 2200-17th Street East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 7M6. Complete obituary information will follow. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.


GRATTON: Wilfred Leslie "Les" Gratton of Brandon, beloved husband of Roselle, passed away in the city on Thursday, October 5, 2006. Les was born to Herbert and Florence Gratton on March 26, 1919 in Brandon, Manitoba. Les completed all his education in the city at McLaren, Park and Earl Oxford Schools. His favorite sport was swimming in the Assiniboine River. At age 18 he went to work for the C.P.R. as an express carrier until he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery as a private in the 15th Field Battery in British Columbia where he spent a year. On August 17, 1941 Les was off to the Navy and served four years under the title of ordinary seaman. He finished his tour on November 21, 1945 and returned to work for the C.P.R. before retiring in 1979. He married Mae Sifton in 1947 and they were married for 44 years. In 1994 Les married Rose Kotyk, they were married for 12 years. Les enjoyed fishing, gardening, and in his younger days he raced pigeons and loved his cats and dogs. He enjoyed watching baseball on T.V., especially his New York Yankees. Les was a member of the Army and Navy Club and the Royal Canadian Legion. He was a high spirited and generous individual with a very good sense of humor. Les was predeceased by his parents Herbert and Florence Gratton; brothers Austin (Winnie) Gratton and Bill Gratton; brothers-in-law Allan, Lawrence, Alfred and Jack. He will be very sadly missed by his four sisters Ethel, Florence, Hazel, and Irene as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. Also left to mourn his passing: wife Roselle; stepchildren: Matthew (Donna) Yurkiw, Theresa (Greg) Dunn; Lisa (George) Maranakis, Catherine Yurkiw (Bill Kehler); step grandchildren Ayla Yurkiw, B.J., Kyle and Jared Evans and Mitchell Yurkiw. He is also survived by Bob Evans and Freda Yurkiw and her children Ashley, and Melissa McGregor. The Funeral Ceremony was held at Memories Chapel on Thursday, October 12, 2006. Mr. Bernie Mullins officiated. Eulogy was given by stepdaughter Catherine Yurkiw. Interment followed at the Brandon Cemetery. Donations in memory of Les may be made to the Manitoba Lung Association, 8-940 Princess Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 0P6 or to the Humane Society, 2200-17th Street East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 7M6. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.Memorials
Manitoba Lung Association, or Brandon Humane Society