Neil Christoffersen passed away on July 24, 2024 in Brandon at the age of 73.
Neil (or Randy as he was known as a kid) was born in Carberry, MB. He grew up in Austin, MB in the same CP section house that he loved.
Neil joined Manitoba Hydro in 1968 before finding that the excitement of the RCMP was for him. After graduating from depot training in Regina, SK in 1971, he was stationed in Avonlea, SK. It was at this next posting in La Loche, SK that he met Cathy, where she was teaching. He joked that the was breaking up fights in the hotel bar but wasn’t legally allowed to drink there.
He took a leave in 1973 to try diamond drilling in Fort MacMurray, became a northern fishing guide, and toured Canada and the USA with Cathy in their red Spitfire. Neil re-enlisted in the RCMP in 1975, and was posted in Lundar, MB.
The RCMP took them to Dauphin, MB in 1981 but in 1984, Neil was ready for a new challenge. He performed financial audits for gas and tobacco tax with the Province of Manitoba until he retired in 1998.
Returning to Austin upon his retirement, Neil became involved in town council to serve the hometown he loved. Over the years, he joined the Sprucedale Board, Austin Hall Committee, Austin Town Council, Community Futures, Manitoba Agricultural Museum, Association of Manitoba Municipalities and worked as mayor/reeve for 12 years. Neil was instrumental in projects that continue to benefit the area and town.
In every facet of his life, he was striving to make things better for the future generations. In his endless curiosity of history, his most current research in finding the original 300 members of the North West Mounted Police, with countless road trips to catalogue graves, it was important to him to honour these people so that our history isn’t forgotten.
Neil is survived by his wife Cathy; their son Moby Christoffersen, wife Shelly, son Liam; their daughter Maren Laird, husband Jim and their daughters Campbell and Cerys; his sisters Penny Christoffersen-Clark and Karen Down and her husband Jim, sister-in-law Beryl Henders and sister-in-law Wanda Christoffersen and countless (grand) nieces and nephews.
He is pre-deceased by his parents Marj and Axel, and brothers Philip, Monty and Alfred, and his brother-in-law Len Clark.
Neil was proud to carry on the tradition of hosting family reunions and keeping his family in touch with distant relatives. He loved being “the house on the side of the road” that people can pop in for coffee and visit. His integrity, authenticity and his sense of humour are what made him so special.
People that know and love him will continue to see his legacy in everyday activities, enhancing their lives by knowing him.
We invite friends to join us in celebrating Neil’s life on Thursday, August 1st from 2-4 pm at the Austin Community Hall for a come and go memorial.
Donations can be made in lie of flowers to the North Norfolk Foundation. http://www.northnorfolkfoundation.org
Clarke’s Funeral Home Gladstone/MacGregor in care of arrangements