Obituaries

The CSMMI regrets to announce the passing of one of our strongest supporters. Dr. Don Sexton #965, passed away on August 13, 2022, at the age of 83 after battling cancer for over a year.  Professor Sexton joined our society in 1985 and I believe he attended every annual convention since that time. Don would meet Charlie Edwards in New York and drive up to the annual shows. All the way from Tennessee!

Don had a deep and lasting interest in the insignia of the US armed forces and Canadian and Commonwealth armed forces. He served as President of the American Society of Military Insignia Collectors. Don authored and had published one of the first catalogues of Canadian cloth shoulder titles and contributed articles to our Journal over the years.

I remember Don working the bourse room, re-acquainting with old friends and sharing his extensive knowledge of cloth formation signs and shoulder titles of British and Commonwealth forces. He also contributed wise counsel in discussions at our Annual General Meetings.  He and his close friend Charlie Edwards #711 were a constant source of laughter at the Fun Auctions.

The Society will miss Don’s wisdom, comradery, and staunch support.

Journal In Memoriam, Winter 2022  Issue no. 4, November 2022

Posted to website October 26, 2022

It is with great sadness that the President of the CSMMI, Bryan Patterson, announced the passing of Frank Grant on January 18, 2022, in his 85th year.   Frank (Francis) Frederick Grant, December 15, 1936 - January 18, 2022, passed away at Georgetown Hospital in Halton Hills, Ontario.  Mr. Patterson provided the following reflection that appeared in the CSMMI Journal, Summer 2022.

I started attending annual shows and sales of the MMC of C and the CSMMI in the early seventies and I can’t recall, ever, not seeing Frank in attendance, providing an impressive military display, and/or at the working end of a bourse table.

Over the years as I became more acquainted with Frank I learned that he had earned a PhD in History (twice), consulted with a multitude of military museums, authors and collectors from around the world, and created and maintained his own “accredited” museum of military history and artifacts.

Frank supported the CSMMI for many years by attending our monthly and annual shows on a regular basis and providing many good ideas of how we might improve our society.

If a collector or museum were having a difficulty in finding, repairing or identifying an article of military significance they could put Frank on the “case” and consider the “problem solved”.  He will be sorely missed in the hobby by collectors and institutions alike.

Journal In Memoriam, Summer 2022  May 25, 2022

Posted to website June 14, 2022

CSMMI lost one of its greatest supporters on November 18, 2021 with the passing of RUDY SAURO. Rudy had been a member of our Society since December 1966 joining the CSMMI a year after it began in 1965. With the society membership #97, he was considered one of our “original” members.

A retired jeweller, Rudy has been collecting and restoring medals since the early 1960s. He was also very active in the numismatic world as an active member of the Ontario Numismatic Association. Rudy is a prime example of a person who turned his hobby into a thriving business adventure after his retirement.

He was actively engaged in his trade until just a couple of months before his passing at the age of ninety. He was a regular dealer at the CSMMI monthly and annual shows, as well as, at other militaria and numismatic shows in Ontario.  He was also regarded as one of the experts in mounting medals and badges.

He will be remembered as the quiet genius in our field, a man who listened more than he spoke, gave wise council when asked and was a mentor to many military collectors over the years. Rudy was honoured by the CSMMI with a Life Member designation at the 2019 annual general meeting. He is survived by his wife Barbara. Rudy will be sorely missed by us all

On Friday, June 11, 2021, we lost a great man to cancer, a man who was an RCMP Veteran, entrepreneur, a father, grandfather and friend to many. Wayne Cline, 80, passed away peacefully, with his family by his side.
Born in Sidney, Manitoba, Wayne grew up in the town of Glenboro, Manitoba. Many days were filled with exploring, playing and mischief. In his teens he was a paperboy, who realized he could expand his route and pay by jumping on the train to the next few stops, or finding antiques to sell at his father's shop. He spent many days and nights with his friends exploring the area; hunting, fishing, even drinking in the basement of the local church! Wayne, being over 6'4", was the one tasked with going into the hotel beer vendor to buy the beer. This worked well, until his uncle was walking in one day as he was walking out!
A memorable story about Wayne happened the night before he joined the RCMP. A friend and Wayne were driving around Glenboro when they hit black ice and crashed through the plate glass window of the hardware store. Because Wayne needed to have a clean driving abstract his friend took the blame (thank you).
Wayne's first job as an adult was at Marshall Wells Department store in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He later joined the RCMP, seeing the sights of Saskatchewan during his career. This is where he met Margaret by stopping her for speeding and issuing her a warning instead, but only if she would go out with him!
While a member of the Force he started a hobby business out of his love of collecting, buying and selling of Militaria. In 1987 he began Marway Militaria, the "Mar" being the first three letters of his wife Margaret's name, the "Way" the first three letters of his name. For over 30 years, he built and grew a company that is known world wide.
Wayne assisted many collectors in adding special pieces to their collections, helped many museums, including the War Museum in Ottawa, and other local museums with artifacts, advice and guidance. Many items from the store and his personal collection have been used in movies, including his own Red Serge that was worn by Leslie Nielsen in Due South. He had a brush with a celebrity when Robin Williams came into the shop, and when asked if he got his autograph, Wayne was quick to say, "only on his AMEX receipt"!
The word Integrity has been used to describe Wayne and how he conducted business. Wayne retired from the day to day of the shop at the beginning of Covid, passing the torch to Jaime and Jim to continue. He was enjoying working from home and a slower pace of life.
He was a regular at his favourite auction house, McSherry Auctions in Stonewall, making many friends and bringing home "treasures" every week. There wasn't a garage sale he could pass up, and he looked forward to going "picking" on the Free Give Away weekends, first with his daughter Nicole, and later adding in grandkids, Faith and Myka.
Wayne was a life member of the Canadian Society of Military Medals and Insignia and the Military Collectors Club of Canada. Wayne was one of the longest continuous vendors at the AACCA yearly Easter Gun Show in Calgary, Alberta, attending 53 consecutive yearly shows! He met and made many lifelong friends while travelling the country, setting up and selling at shows and conventions. His friends were very important to him.
Up until his last days, he was still searching online for Militaria stock and placing orders. A collector will tell you, "You can quit smoking and drinking, but you never stop collecting"!
Wayne was predeceased by his wife Margaret, his parents, Earl and Mary, his mother and father-in-law Milton and Helena, his sister Linda, brother-in-law Arnie, sisters-in-law, Beth, Sheila and Sandra, nephews, Dave, Curtis and Pearce, and his great-niece Rosie.
He leaves behind his brothers, Terry (Nancy) and Rick (Heather), sister-in-law Shirley (Bill), brothers-in-law, Reg, Duncan (Judi) and Albert; his daughter Nicole (Mike), his two granddaughters, Faith and Myka who he loved more than words could explain, and his daughter Jaime (Jim) and grand-dog Captain; numerous nieces and nephews.
Faith will always remember grandpa Wayne and their connection of riding horses. Myka in more recent times will remember elbow bumping with him.
We cannot express our gratitude to Wayne's niece, Michelle, who helped us navigate Wayne's last days and kept him comfortable.

"Thanks Dad, you made a difference."

There is no service or memorial planned at this time. Wayne and Margaret will be interred in Glenboro, Manitoba once the Covid restrictions ease.
Memorial donations can be made in Wayne's memory to the Wounded Warriors of Canada at https://woundedwarriors.ca or to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Manitoba Branch at https://kidney.ca
Please visit www.willmorchapel.com where you may share stories and photo's of Wayne. Friends may also sign Wayne's memorial register book by calling 204-827-2480 or email us at [email protected] and we will insert your name.

Jamieson's Funeral Services
of Glenboro, MB, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 19, 2021

ESLARY, Leslie A. ( d. 2020)  It is with deep regret to report that our friend and fellow member Les Eslary (L178), passed away unexpectedly on 2 January 2020. As a long time member of the CSMMI, he was a strong supporter, contributor and pillar of the society. His service and devotion to the development and continued success of the CSMMI was rewarded with a well deserved life membership. As an avid toy soldier collector Les was also a member of the Ontario Model Soldier Society (OMSS). His passion for military history and collecting militaria, especially medals was reflected in the quality and quantity of his collection. We shall always remember his outstanding and creative award winning displays and presentations at the CSMMI and OMSS annual shows Though most of us have known Les for years, there are only a few of the Old Guard left to recall the early days dating back to the 1960s and 70s. A brief account of the life of Les during the golden years of the CSMMI is aptly summarized by a welcomed contribution by Clay Marston (64)