William "Bill" Bornn
January 8, 1943 - June 24, 2025
Our Dad, William “Bill” Bornn, was born on January 8, 1943 near the Village of Arden, Manitoba to Peter and Helena Bornn (nee Martens).
He was baptized upon his confession of faith and married Elizabeth “Betty” Nickel on September 28, 1969. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Lori and Tracy.
Dad spent most of his adult life working as a truck driver. He tried a 9-5 job for about one year and realized that trucking was in his blood and before we knew it he was back on the road. He loved spending so much time on the road that he thoroughly enjoyed driving to B.C. to see his sister, Marie, during his holidays. One of Chelsey’s fond memories was going for country drives with Grandpa, while listening to the Kickin’ Country cassette in his GMC Sierra.
The last portion of Dad’s trucking career was spent employed with Essen Transport. He was very fond of working for Ed Elias. Even after Dad’s driver’s license was revoked, he would scoot to Essen for a visit. He spoke often of Ed, Christine and the other staff. One cherished gift Dad received during his employment was the red throw blanket with Essen Transport embroidered in the corner. This blanket travelled with him upon his admission to the hospital and provided much comfort and was the centre of many conversations, allowing him to remember his good ‘ole days at Essen. Unfortunately, the blanket was lost during a routine laundry service and we are hopeful it is now providing comfort to another resident.
In his retirement, Dad’s daily routine included a good breakfast and lots of coffee with friends at Dairy Queen and Twisters and a weekly visit to the Buhler Active Living Centre for biscuits with his best friend, Walter Hamm. But no matter where you saw him he was often sporting the Canadian tuxedo or khaki on khaki. In December of 2023, Dad had pain that warranted a ride to the Boundary Trails Health Centre, however before they were able to leave for the hospital, the paramedic came out of the ambulance and told Brad that they were unable to leave until Dad had his cap.
From early childhood, Lori and I remember music often being played in the house. He and mom would often entertain friends with their musical talent. In his late 70s, he got involved with others, who shared a similar music interest and spent many hours playing at the Buhler Active Living Centre for whom he would call the “old” people.
Dad had a love for hockey. He spent many hours watching the Winnipeg Jets on TV. He was a passionate armchair coach, sitting on the edge of his chair, shouting advice at the players. He really enjoyed watching Noah and Seth play hockey, however due to his competitive nature, when the score was not in his grandson’s favour, he would announce he was going to go for coffee and would swiftly exit the arena. Sundays were a standing order for the family to come to Brad and Tracy’s place for supper. However, if there was a Winkler Flyers’ game, Dad would often cut supper short or be unable to come to ensure he wouldn’t miss puck drop.
The family spent many summers in Clear Lake, where Dad liked to go for a walk on the marsh walk, evening drives scouting for animals, reading the newspaper in front of the theatre and eating ice cream.
In 2019 Dad began to show signs of cognitive decline, however he was formally diagnosed with dementia in the spring of 2022. He felt his independence was lost when his driver’s license was revoked.
We as a family, together with Pete Peters and Menno Wieler, would make sure that he could enjoy regular activities as much as possible by driving him to and from breakfasts, biscuits, coffee and music jam sessions.
As the dementia continued to progress, we saw everything that he previously loved to eat and do become unimportant to him with the exception of his cap, a warm Pepsi and Popcorn Twists. Old Dutch and Pepsi may be noticing a decline in sales.
This journey has been very difficult for him and his family. We tried to navigate new challenges the disease presented, sometimes on a daily basis, which made us recognize that memory is a gift from God and not something to be taken for granted as we have witnessed how quickly that gift can be taken from someone. We acknowledge that although this gift can be removed from our earthly body, we have complete assurance that he has been granted a new heavenly body and that all has been restored.
We cling to the hope found in Revelation 21:4 where God promises, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
We lost a piece of Dad every day from this devastating disease, but the last piece of him was taken at 6:38 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, when Dad breathed his last breath and Jesus took him to his heavenly home.
Dad leaves to cherish his memory his daughters, Lori Bornn and Tracy and Brad Friesen, along with six grandchildren, Chelsey Bornn, boyfriend Darren McFetridge, Noah Friesen, girlfriend Dena Gerbrandt, Seth and Ashley Friesen, Hope and Kaden Doerksen. Also mourning his passing is his sister, Marie. Dad was predeceased by his parents and five siblings.
We as a family would like to thank those who cared for our Dad at the Altona Community Memorial Health Centre, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Pembina-Manitou Health Centre and Tabor Home.
We would also like to thank our friends and family, who have supported us with love, acts of kindness and prayer for us during Dad’s illness and passing.
January 8, 1943 - June 24, 2025
Our Dad, William “Bill” Bornn, was born on January 8, 1943 near the Village of Arden, Manitoba to Peter and Helena Bornn (nee Martens).
He was baptized upon his confession of faith and married Elizabeth “Betty” Nickel on September 28, 1969. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Lori and Tracy.
Dad spent most of his adult life working as a truck driver. He tried a 9-5 job for about one year and realized that trucking was in his blood and before we knew it he was back on the road. He loved spending so much time on the road that he thoroughly enjoyed driving to B.C. to see his sister, Marie, during his holidays. One of Chelsey’s fond memories was going for country drives with Grandpa, while listening to the Kickin’ Country cassette in his GMC Sierra.
The last portion of Dad’s trucking career was spent employed with Essen Transport. He was very fond of working for Ed Elias. Even after Dad’s driver’s license was revoked, he would scoot to Essen for a visit. He spoke often of Ed, Christine and the other staff. One cherished gift Dad received during his employment was the red throw blanket with Essen Transport embroidered in the corner. This blanket travelled with him upon his admission to the hospital and provided much comfort and was the centre of many conversations, allowing him to remember his good ‘ole days at Essen. Unfortunately, the blanket was lost during a routine laundry service and we are hopeful it is now providing comfort to another resident.
In his retirement, Dad’s daily routine included a good breakfast and lots of coffee with friends at Dairy Queen and Twisters and a weekly visit to the Buhler Active Living Centre for biscuits with his best friend, Walter Hamm. But no matter where you saw him he was often sporting the Canadian tuxedo or khaki on khaki. In December of 2023, Dad had pain that warranted a ride to the Boundary Trails Health Centre, however before they were able to leave for the hospital, the paramedic came out of the ambulance and told Brad that they were unable to leave until Dad had his cap.
From early childhood, Lori and I remember music often being played in the house. He and mom would often entertain friends with their musical talent. In his late 70s, he got involved with others, who shared a similar music interest and spent many hours playing at the Buhler Active Living Centre for whom he would call the “old” people.
Dad had a love for hockey. He spent many hours watching the Winnipeg Jets on TV. He was a passionate armchair coach, sitting on the edge of his chair, shouting advice at the players. He really enjoyed watching Noah and Seth play hockey, however due to his competitive nature, when the score was not in his grandson’s favour, he would announce he was going to go for coffee and would swiftly exit the arena. Sundays were a standing order for the family to come to Brad and Tracy’s place for supper. However, if there was a Winkler Flyers’ game, Dad would often cut supper short or be unable to come to ensure he wouldn’t miss puck drop.
The family spent many summers in Clear Lake, where Dad liked to go for a walk on the marsh walk, evening drives scouting for animals, reading the newspaper in front of the theatre and eating ice cream.
In 2019 Dad began to show signs of cognitive decline, however he was formally diagnosed with dementia in the spring of 2022. He felt his independence was lost when his driver’s license was revoked.
We as a family, together with Pete Peters and Menno Wieler, would make sure that he could enjoy regular activities as much as possible by driving him to and from breakfasts, biscuits, coffee and music jam sessions.
As the dementia continued to progress, we saw everything that he previously loved to eat and do become unimportant to him with the exception of his cap, a warm Pepsi and Popcorn Twists. Old Dutch and Pepsi may be noticing a decline in sales.
This journey has been very difficult for him and his family. We tried to navigate new challenges the disease presented, sometimes on a daily basis, which made us recognize that memory is a gift from God and not something to be taken for granted as we have witnessed how quickly that gift can be taken from someone. We acknowledge that although this gift can be removed from our earthly body, we have complete assurance that he has been granted a new heavenly body and that all has been restored.
We cling to the hope found in Revelation 21:4 where God promises, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
We lost a piece of Dad every day from this devastating disease, but the last piece of him was taken at 6:38 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, when Dad breathed his last breath and Jesus took him to his heavenly home.
Dad leaves to cherish his memory his daughters, Lori Bornn and Tracy and Brad Friesen, along with six grandchildren, Chelsey Bornn, boyfriend Darren McFetridge, Noah Friesen, girlfriend Dena Gerbrandt, Seth and Ashley Friesen, Hope and Kaden Doerksen. Also mourning his passing is his sister, Marie. Dad was predeceased by his parents and five siblings.
We as a family would like to thank those who cared for our Dad at the Altona Community Memorial Health Centre, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Pembina-Manitou Health Centre and Tabor Home.
We would also like to thank our friends and family, who have supported us with love, acts of kindness and prayer for us during Dad’s illness and passing.