David “Dave” Spiers
July 9th, 1949 – April 14th, 2025
Peacefully, on April 14th, 2025, David Daniel Spiers passed away at Portage District General Hospital at the age of 75 years old. Dave is survived by his wife, Marnel, children Suzanne (Carson), Rena (Curtis), Lisa (Ray), and Mike, his numerous grandchildren Alex, Bailey (Cole), Chanese, Keri, Jeremy (Heidi), Cheyanne, Cassandra (Matthew), Mervin, Ashley, Brody, Mikey, Lucas, Reya, Tristian, and many foster grandchildren, as well as his proudest legacy - his great grandchildren Bennett and Araelia. He will also be missed by his brother Gerry (Gill), and many more relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his parents, Leonard and Irene, and his brothers, Bob and Len.
Dave was born on July 9th, 1949, in Winnipeg MB, to Leonard and Irene Spiers. He spent his childhood in Winnipeg and moved to Edmonton in his early twenties where Dave met Marnel in Edmonton in 1971. One day, as all friends do Dave and Marnel were having a heated discussion about where they would spend Christmas IF they got married. Sometime during that conversation, they decided that they should make it official. A few weeks later, on May 24th, 1974, they were married. They moved to Winnipeg shortly after their first daughter was born and settled there and in the surrounding areas until moving to Portage la Prairie in 2010 to be closer to their grandchildren. During their time in Portage, their grandson Alex lived with them for many years which Dave loved more than anything.
He had many pursuits throughout his lifetime. He began his early career working as an electrician. In Edmonton, he worked for CAA which included teaching drivers ed, making driving safety videos that aired on local tv and running a school patrol summer camp. Dave also worked in the Home Security Industry for many years including owning his own company in the industry.
Family was most important to Dave. He put taking care of his family above everything and would do whatever he could to make sure they were taken care of. All three of his daughters had him wrapped around their fingers and he once went to get his oldest daughter’s ears pierced, and he was the only one to leave with a pierced ear. The stories of his young adult life usually included his brothers, especially his brother Gerry. He hardly missed a Sunday dinner at his parents’ house as long as he was living in Winnipeg. He was fiercely proud of all his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He would brag about them to anyone who would listen, especially in the last few years of his life.
Dave was sarcastic and witty. He often told outlandish stories with such a straight face that made it hard to tell if he was pulling your leg. He once convinced his daughter American’s had six toes on each foot and while on vacation, she asked someone to see their sixth toe. You could tell he liked you if he teased you or made a sarcastic comment. He loved to bake and cook, always wanting to try a new recipe. He loved woodworking and even convinced his son in law to let him set up a shop in his garage. He built numerous projects for his family, later teaching his grandsons to do the same. In the last years of his life, he spent hours tending to his tomato garden, rigging up irrigation systems and everything else he could think of to make his tomatoes grow.
Words cannot fully express the depths of who this man was, and he will be deeply missed.
Per Dave’s wishes there will be no funeral service held at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dave’s memory to CancerCare Manitoba.
A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.
http://www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com 204-857-4021.