

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Jean, son Gordon (Tina), daughter Donna (Todd) and daughter Michelle (Brian). Poppa will also be missed by his grandchildren; Alixandra, Steffane, Samantha, Andrew, Emily, Ashley and Morgan, whom he adored!
He was predeceased by his father Sydney McLennan, mother Jane McNeely, brother Charlie and sister Joan.
Throughout his life, Ian had a great love of sport. His positive attitude and his height of 6'7" were both key elements to his success in sport. As a young man he played baseball for the Brandon Cloverleafs as first baseman. Ian also loved playing basketball during his school years. Later, Ian discovered golf and enjoyed golfing with friends and family. When he was no longer engaged in sport, he became an avid armchair enthusiast and was a devoted Bombers and Jets fan.
Upon graduation from Brandon Collegiate, Ian joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1952 where he attained his fixed wing pilot license.
Despite a tragic vehicle accident in 1960 that left him with a below knee amputation of his left leg, he rose to this challenge and obtained his helicopter license and continued to fly for the remainder of his military career.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 1975, following a peace keeping tour in Vietnam and then retired from the military in 1979.
Following his military career that spanned 27 years, he went on to work for Bristol Aerospace and then Boeing Canada. Towards the end of his career, Ian flew privately in northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Ian loved lake life at Devils Gap, on Lake of the Woods, and later, in Minaki. He spent many hours restoring and repairing his beloved wooden boat the "Cedar Shark" for her maiden voyage. At the lake Ian would be found either on or in the lake, or soaking up the sun on the deck; this was his "happy place".
Ian was a big man with a big heart to match; he met all life's challenges with style, grace and a great sense of humor. He loved his time spent with family and friends and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
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