Mr. Edward Leier

Ed passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, early Friday morning November25, three weeks after his 95th birthday. Ed was born in Sergejufka, Poland to Edward and Erna Leier who immigrated to Canada when he was 9 months old. He was raised along with sisters Hertha, Elsie, Rita, and Marilyn in East Kildonan, Winnipeg. He spent his formative years playing a variety of sports including track and baseball, but his great love was hockey. He began his professional hockey career in 1946 with the Winnipeg Rangers and played in seven different leagues including the NHL, with the Chicago Blackhawks. While playing for the Vancouver Canucks he met and married his soulmate, Pat Mahood, in 1953. They headed to Syracuse for next hockey season. Their daughter Sharon was born in 1954. After two more years of playing hockey in Springfield he decided that the long periods on the road away from family was not for him. They returned to Winnipeg where their son Brian was born, and Ed began a 33-year career with Retail Credit Company (now Equifax). In 1961, a promotion took them back to Pat’s family in Vancouver and the birth of their son David in 1962. A transfer to Regina as Manager sent them to the Prairies in 1969. He finished his career as Regional Manager in Calgary in 1989. Ed and Pat retired to the West Coast and enjoyed golfing trips to Arizona and California. An honour that Ed never expected, was being inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2002, Pat suffered a stroke and Ed’s care of, and devotion to his wife until she passed in 2019 surpassed all achievements of his life.

Dad aspired to being the “playmaker” in his hockey career and continued that aspiration through his life, he was a competitor but wanted success for all. His friends called him a “gentleman” and a “kidder.” His wry wit and humour was appreciated by friends, family, and care workers until his last days. He was respected and loved by all.

Ed was a loving father to Sharon (Blair Fraser), Brian (Michelle), and David (Lisa). He was a wonderful Grandpa to Rhiannon (John Blacher), Simon, Erin (Brendan), and Lauren Fraser, Brett (Holly), Mia and Adam Leier. He was Great-Grandpa to Jackson and Sadie Blacher. He is also survived and will be sadly missed by sisters Hertha Matthes, Marilyn Woytowich and their families (Winnipeg), as well as the Buffie family (Selkirk), and sister-in-law Tina Mahood and family (NorthVancouver).

Ed’s family would also like to send a huge Thank you to Dr. R. Demian and the caring staff at Chartwell Langley Gardens through three years and three levels of care and during a pandemic, you are amazing. Dad was one who could not refuse giving a donation to “a good cause.” Anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory, Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Alzheimer Society, Red Cross, and Covenant House Vancouver were some of his favourites.

A Celebration of his life will be held at First Memorial Fraser Heights, 14835 Fraser Highway, Surrey BC on January 20, 2023 at 2 pm. It will be live streamed for those unable to attend. Final rest will be at Glen Eden Cemetery, West Saint Paul, Manitoba in August 2023.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialsurrey.com for the Leier family.