November 2nd, 1952 – May 22, 2024
Kenneth (Kenny) Louis Blake Paradis, 71, of Winnipeg , Manitoba, passed away on May 22, 2024 after a lengthy illness at the Grace Hospital Hospice in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Kenny was born on November 2nd, 1952 to Shirley and Louis Paradis in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
He was the oldest of 5 brothers and sisters: Douglas, Kevin, Kelly and Jacqueline. As a Young boy he grew up in the Municipality of Charleswood which had more forested and bushland areas then houses at that time. He, his brothers and friends spent many hours exploring the bush paths and trails in their youth, building many forts along the way. Kenny attended Chapman Elementary School then later Charleswood High School. In his later youth, he developed a love for fishing and hunting which usually involved all three brothers and their friends.
Often there were many late night/early (3:00 A.M.) morning fishing trips along the east side of the Red River’s locks in Lockport, Manitoba. Kenny liked to fish off the old fish ladder, which looked like a “wheelchair ramp” for fish who navigated the river. On many occasions, Kenny, who liked to scare and torment his youngest brother, would stand on the narrow concrete outer wall of the ladder overlooking the fast water. On one occasion, fate decided to scare Ken. He was standing as usual on the outer wall about 15 feet above the fast water when he suffered a terrible “Charlie horse” in his leg and he fell to the top of the wall. He rolled around for a few seconds and nearly fell in the river, scaring himself and everyone with him. Ken loved his food, and no trip was complete to Lockport, Manitoba without a visit to “Skinners” for hotdogs, chips, and a soft drink in a real glass bottle. He would laugh and always insisted that the glass bottles made them taste so much better.
Ken also liked to hunt, fish and go camping as a young man. These trips took Ken, his brothers and, friends (Joey and Susan Lucas, Donnie Lucas, and Eric Luczak) to many parts of Manitoba. These trips included travelling to Riding Mountain National Park, Rainbow Lake, West Hawk Lake, Sandilands Provincial Park, Meadows, Delta Marsh, Netley Marsh, and the Rosser area. One of his favorites was Agassiz Provincial Forest. He loved to walk the forest trails even if there were no game birds around. On these trips he would prepare elaborate lunches for himself and his group. Ken loved to target shoot and also tried his hand at reloading ammunition.
He was very generous in many ways, whether it was food, gifts, or time. Often, when Ken was in his late teens-early 20’s and had a good job, he was overly thoughtful and went overboard at Christmas with gift giving. When his youngest brother got his driver’s license, Ken would often lend him his car to use to go out with his friends, “a very kind and good brother.” Ken loved to go out with Friends to eat. He had a wide selection of favorite Restaurants; The Dairy King near Elmhurst and Roblin Blvd, Nicks in Headingly, Frank’s Pizza, Gondola. He loved all different styles of Chinese Food, including the New Hong Kong on Notre dame Avenue.
Later in life Kenny left Safeway and went to work in security for a time. He took a position at the Manitoba Lotteries in their security department. He worked there for many years until he retired. When Ken worked at the Lotteries he met and became friends with a fellow, Emile in 1999. Both had an appetite for fishing and joined the Unicity City Game and Fishing Club. This took both Ken and Emile on numerous fishing adventures throughout eastern Manitoba. Ken also met another fellow through the fishing club, Walter. He and Walter became good friends and made several road trip adventures and stayed in contact until days before Kenny’s death.
On one such adventure, Emile related to me, that he and Kenny were on a lake in a small aluminum boat and saw a cow moose in some shallows. They decided to approach her quietly and shut off the outboard motor; they were drifting towards her when to their surprise, they realized the cow was a mama when her calf stepped out from behind her. As they drifted towards the moose it was apparent that the mother was getting agitated. Ken and Emile decided it was time to leave and the motor would not start. They got nervous as they drifted closer. They were trying to start the motor with no luck; mama moose was now swimming towards them. Panic started to set in. Like all good cliffhanger stories, Emile related that they were able to get the boat started in a nick time and leave mama and baby moose before she decided to get into the boat with them. This was just one of Kenny’s many adventures. Emile added, with a chuckle, that Kenny knew all the best burger places in Manitoba, and they tried to visit as many as possible in their travels. Kenny loved a road trip – it didn’t matter the destination.
Kenny lived his whole life in the Charleswood area. He lived in the family home with his grandmother Theresa Matzolic and his Aunt Gloria Matzolic. Kenny also had a little dog named Jellybean, who he loved and took on many outings.
Kenny was the proud great uncle to his niece, Alex (6 years-old) and his nephew Jacob (8 years-old). When they were younger and learned Uncle Kenny would be visiting, Jacob and Alex would ask whether “the old people were coming.” This was because they knew if he was coming he would have treats or a special dinner. Hence, he was their favorite uncle.
Kenny is survived by his mother Shirley and his Aunt Gloria. He will be deeply missed by his brother Kevin and his sisters Jackie and Kelly. He will also leave a sense of loss with his sister-in-law Heather Webber. Lynn Odger and niece Allison Odger will feel his absence deeply. His niece Maria Mead, her husband Chris, and his grand niece Alex and grand nephew Jacob will also greatly mourn him. He is predeceased by his father Louis Paradis and his brother Douglas Paradis.
The passing of Kenny will be a loss deeply felt by all who knew him. In loving Memory of Kenny.
