Leonard Samuel Pratt

Surrounded by his loving family, Len, 81, passed away on May 28, 2022 at Dauphin Regional Health Center.

Len was born in Gladstone, MB, and grew up in Plumas, MB on the family farm with his parents, Frank and Muriel Pratt, and his five sisters (yes, we said five), Joan (Richard), Karen (Ken), Patricia (Murray), Linda (David), and Jackee (Martin).  He left home at age 17 and began working as an electrician. 

Len married Catherine on January 18, 1964 in Winnipeg.  He came to Gilbert Plains, MB, in 1968 with his young wife, Cathy, and two of his eventually four children, for a job to wire the brand new Gilbert Plains Elementary School. 

Dad and Mom were only supposed to be in Gilbert Plains for one year but ended up liking it so much that they never left. They were active members in the community and volunteered for many organizations.  Dad was in the Kinsmen Club.  He was a firefighter and the Fire Chief for many years.  He was a volunteer ambulance attendant and driver.  He served as a town counsellor and then Mayor of Gilbert Plains.  He traveled throughout Canada wiring airport runways and working other commercial jobs before opening his own Electrical Contracting business, Len Pratt Electric.  He had a reputation for excellent work, honesty, reliability, and fairness.

Len and Cathy had four incredible children – Sheldon, Coral, Kirby, and Corey.  They in turn produced eight fantastic grandchildren who were the apple of Poppa’s eye.  He would say that Christmas was so much better with the “ankle biters” and “rug rats” in the picture.  Ryan, Mathew, Meghan, Taylor, Lucas, Amanda, Sydney, and Connor were born within five years of each other so they kept their Poppa busy.  He enjoyed camping, fishing, snowmobiling, traveling, and even ziplining (once) throughout our lives and continued with those adventures with his grandkids.  Enthusiastic card playing was constantly anticipated and enjoyed with much laughter and some yelling.  He was passionate about his sports with Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Toronto Blue Jays topping the list.  Dad had a great sense of humour and a quick wit, gifts that his progeny appear to have inherited and were only too happy to share with him.  He had a warm, infectious laugh and a twinkle in his eye, especially when he was pulling someone’s leg.    

In recent years, Dad and Mom were able to travel to many places including Australia, Mexico, Caribbean Islands, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.  He also visited his favourite daughter in Virginia and Colorado many times.  He traveled across Canada and the United States.  Without fail he always traveled on “crazy Pratt time” with as few stops as possible! 

Dad had a number of significant health issues and continually beat the odds for many years until this final battle.  He was greatly loved and admired by his family and many friends.  Although the loss is overwhelming, we are focusing on the love, laughter and priceless memories in a celebration of an incredible man and a life well lived.

Services were held for Len on Monday, June 27, 2022, at 11am at Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Center in Dauphin with Reverend Karen Kuzek officiating. 

The service was live streamed for those unable to attend. 

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Len may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.  Or in lieu of flowers you may choose to plant a tree as he was an avid outdoorsman.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leonard Samuel Pratt, please visit our floral store.