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August 8, 1919 - February 14, 2017


It is with great sadness that the family of Edward Percival Mailman announce his passing on February 14, 2017. Edward passed away peacefully at New Horizons. He was 97 years old.

Edward had a farmer’s work ethic and was honest to a fault. He was a patient mentor and teacher who believed in leading by example. He believed in family and helping those in his community, everyone was always made welcome in his home. In the words of staff at New Horizons where he spent the last few years of his life, "He was a real gentleman to the end.”

He was born and raised in Manitoba; the fifth of thirteen children. As a young man he worked on the family farm and commercially fished on lake Manitoba until age twenty-one when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1941 as a tail gunner. He saw service in Canada and overseas in Britain and North Africa with Bomber Command and was discharged from service April 1945.

After being discharged, he returned to Winnipeg where he married his wife of 63 years, Edith May Mailman (Robb); predeceased March 20, 2009)

In spring 1945, after deciding not to continue farming, Edward and May moved to McCreary, Manitoba where they purchased a Red & White store. They owned and managed the business for two years. During this time, their first child Shirely was born, September 8, 1946 (married Dale Lingren, July 1964 - both deceased). In 1947, after selling the store, Edward packed up his family and headed west to Victoria, BC. On arriving in Victoria, he visited his Air Force captain, who was now with the BC Forest Service. He suggested to Edward and his family that they check out Campbell River for opportunities. They arrived in Campbell River in the fall of 1947, finding 22 acres in Willow Point, making them pioneers in this area.

He cleared the land and developed a chicken farm, selling chickens, eggs and produce to resorts, hotels, stores, logging camps and restaurants. Edward and May had 3 more children: Eddie-John (predeceased 1969), Garry Harold (married Maxine Eisel 1972) and Kristjan David (married Cheryl Milan 1983). Edward farmed until 1966 when the community started to grow around the farm. He then set his heart on building and renovating homes for families in Campbell River which he did until he retired.

He will be dearly missed by sons Garry (Maxine) and Krist (Cheryl), grandchildren Traci (Ken), Tony, Allan (predeceased), Dale (Lee), Amanda (Dustin) and Kristjan (Ange); great-grandchildren Jocelyn, McKenna, Elise, Chase, Brianne, Blake and Caleb, brothers and sister as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews from Manitoba.

Rest in peace Edward. Your journey has be a long and productive one. You will be sorely missed by the family and friends you leave behind.

The family would like to thank nurses and staff at New Horizons. A special thanks to Lisa and Therisa for all they did for Grandpa Ed.

There will be a Celebration of Life in the summer of 2017. Details to come.



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