Obituary of Leslie Norman Danielson

We are sad to announce the sudden passing of Les at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg on December 2, 2022. Les is survived by his son Justin (Kim); his daughter Dana (David); his brothers Harold (Judy) and Glen; sister Pat (Curtiss); grandchildren Isla, Lucas, and Sivan. Les is predeceased by his son Wesley; his brother Robert; and his parents Baldur and Inga. Les grew up on a family farm near Arborg, Manitoba as the oldest of five children. The farm was a mixed operation of grain and cattle. Les spoke only Icelandic at home as a child and learned to speak English upon entering school in Arborg. Les learned a lot about mechanics from his father Baldur and Uncle Ingie and was able to scrape together cars and keep them running from a young age. Les married Dianne Sigvaldason, also from the Arborg area, in 1972. They moved to Winnipeg and Les attended Red River College in Business Administration. Les worked in construction and carpentry in Winnipeg and elsewhere, and later found his calling in sales which he enjoyed greatly. Les and Dianne started their own business, Enershield, which performed renovations and built sunrooms onto homes and businesses. Les was very ambitious, and the business was very successful for several years. They lived in St. Germain on the Red River with their children, Justin and Dana, and their dog Boomer, until they divorced in 1995. Les had a big personality and was the life of the party. He had a sharp sense of humour, and everyone knew his booming laugh. He seemed to be a kid at heart, which made him very skilled at entertaining children. He was always making funny faces and elaborate plans to amuse children at family get togethers and parties. He was a storyteller and loved telling tall tales of his adventures as a young boy on the farm, especially about getting into trouble with his brother Robert. Les was also the family photographer and videographer and was persistent in his commitment to capture all the family moments on camera. Les met Kelly Elwick in Winnipeg and had a son together, Wesley, whom he loved very much. Les and Kelly joined families for several years and lived together in Tuxedo. Les suffered greatly, irrecoverably, when Wesley died in 2016 of drug addiction. Les loved going to Lake of the Woods in Ontario, and for several years rented cabins in the summer to enjoy with his children. He loved driving his 26-foot, dual 260hp-engine cigarette boat “Impetuous” which made amazing waves for the kids to wakeboard and go tubing. He also embarked on ambitious family road trips to Banff for skiing, which gave his kids unforgettable memories. Les was an unstoppable force when he put his mind to something and he carried a larger-than-life persona. He was also mischievous and all about pushing the limits. He was a skilled driver and he loved driving very fast. He didn’t like authority and would break traffic laws as much as he could get away with. Les suffered from alcohol addiction, which made significant periods of his life very dark and caused all of his relationships to suffer. His family sends deep gratitude to everyone in his life who tried over the years to help him recover. Les had a big heart and he deeply loved his family. We are comforted knowing that he is not suffering anymore. In lieu of flowers, anyone who wishes can donate on Les’s behalf to the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.