Obituary of Ralph Michael Neigum

NEIGUM, Raphael

October 10, 1924 – June 8, 2018

Ralph passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, June 8, 2018 at the age of 93. He was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Frances (nee Schneider) Neigum; sisters Catherine Neigum, Mary Bannow and Agnes Kehler; brothers Paul, Alex, Charlie and Bernard. Ralph was born October 10, 1924, the eldest son to Michael and Frances, on the family farm near Reward, SK. He attended Donegal School through the Great Depression years until 1940 when he began helping with seeding, haying and harvesting on the family farm and on several neighbouring farms. In March of 1944, Ralph headed to Regina and enlisted into the Canadian Armed Forces. He trained extensively with the Royal Canadian Engineers Branch before heading to Halifax to embark on the ‘New Amsterdam’ troop ship for his first ever ocean voyage to Liverpool. Upon his arrival there, he was sent to train with the Infantry, despite his Engineering training. After the signing of the Peace Treaty, he was sent with the Engineers to Holland and Northern Germany to demolish the war damaged bridges. In September 1945 he trained with the Canadian Provost Corp and served as Sergeant with the Military Police for his final year in the Army. He returned home to Canada in September 1946 and obtained his discharge after 31 months of service.

Ralph then headed to Trail, BC with friends to work at Cominico Mining & Smelting, where he stayed for three years. On one of his trips back home to the farm, he was introduced to his future wife, Eleanor Leinenweber. They were married July 24, 1951 and together, they would raise their family of nine children.

Ralph began work at Consumer’s Co-operative Refineries in Regina in March 1951 as a yard labourer and by 1960 had worked his way up through the pipefitting department to a 1st class Journeyman, obtaining his 1st Class Licenses in pipefitting, commercial gas fitting and plumbing. In 1970 he was promoted to Supervisor of Pipefitters and Equipment Mechanics where he worked until his retirement in 1986, putting in 35 years of service with the company. In 1987, he was asked to return to help complete the NewGrade Energy Project (the Upgrader) for 13 months.

Ralph’s retirement years were spent enjoying his children and grandchildren, travelling with Eleanor in their RV and expanding his interest and skill in woodworking. They moved from Regina to a hobby acreage near White City, where they enjoyed a quiet country life for many years before moving back into the city.

Throughout his life, Ralph always gave generously of his time and his carpentry and handyman talents to Holy Cross Parish Church, the Knights of Columbus, the school and his community of family and friends. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 66 years, Eleanor; children Marilyn (Rod) Buckingham, Maureen (Mike) Strickland, Norma (Gerry) Fellner, Don Neigum, Trish Kennedy (Roger), Diane (Alex) Yum, Dave (Debbie) Neigum, Kevin (Jamie) Neigum and Charlene (Shawn) Patton; 22 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; youngest brother Fred (Audrey) Neigum as well as many nieces and nephews.

Prayers will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Holy Cross R.C. Church, 315 Douglas Ave., E., Regina, SK. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 29, 2018 at Holy Cross R.C. Church.