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William Nelson MacLeod

William Nelson  MacLeod

Passed on: February 13th, 2018

It is with heavy hearts that we, the family of William Nelson MacLeod, announce his peaceful passing on February 13, 2017, at The Cove Guest Home, surrounded by his loving family. Nelson was born May 13, 1930 in Sydney to the late William Alexander MacLeod and Annie Mae MacLeod (MacIntosh).
He is survived by his children, Bonnie Lee Sutherland (Eric), Terri Ann Carabin (Les), David William MacLeod (Sandra) and Vicki Lynn Marie Whyte (Sandy). He will also be lovingly missed by 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, David MacLeod (Lyla) of London, ON and Rebecca Schick of Barefoot Bay, Florida, as well as his nieces and nephews.
Aside from his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Phyllis Gwendolyn MacLeod; his daughter, Linda Louise MacLeod; grandson, Jonathan Charles Carabin, and brother in infancy, Alexander MacLeod.
Dad grew up in Whitney Pier and then moved to lower Charlotte Street as a boy. Dad’s family life while he was growing up was busy and adventuresome. His family often had many visitors and guests, they were also entrepreneurial (his father was the founder of W.A. MacLeod and Son Ltd.), and there was significant emphasis on living out their Christian faith. It was while living on lower Charlotte where Dad met the love of his life, our mother, who lived on Byng Avenue. He would joke that if he had not stopped to help fix this girl’s bicycle that fateful day, perhaps their life together would not have happened. However, God had it all planned. As a young man he loved to play hockey. The highlight years of his hockey career came while playing on the championship varsity team for Kings-Edgehill Collegiate and being one of their top offensive players.
Dad was a consummate businessman. He was known to say that he felt it was “his calling in life” and he embraced it as such. For Dad, running businesses and leading projects put wind in his sails. He was most fulfilled when he was in charge of a project or launching a new line and making it come together. He found success in business with these natural leadership skills and a great work ethic. Although Dad had natural leadership skills he was also friendly, charismatic, and had a big heart. Those attributes served him well. Together with our mother, he built a number of businesses (W.A. MacLeod and Son Ltd., Mac’s Warehouse Appliances and Gwennel Holdings Ltd).
Although Dad embraced business he had many other interests and would often transfer those entrepreneurial skills in non-business projects and ministries. Mom and Dad had large hearts for ministry to others. Many people continue to tell us stories of how Mom and Dad had shown them kindness and reached out to them at difficult stages of their lives. Much of my parent’s ministry together was toward helping children. Over the years they poured their time and resources into local ministries like Cape Breton Bible Camp, Munroe Academy, Riverview Sunday School, Faith Baptist Youth Group, and other churches. They loved the ministries of Compassion of Canada, the Gideons, Christian Women’s Club of Sydney, and many others. Dad was proud to have served on boards of directors for a number of charities and churches like Compassion of Canada, Faith Baptist Church, The Cove Guest Home, and many others.
As their children, our lives were filled with good things growing up. We have great memories of all kinds of activities and adventures. Activities such as winter sports and summer sports were constant and pursued with enthusiasm. Our parents were skiers, boaters, motorcyclists, world travelers, etc. and they did these things with us. They followed our sports, education, and vocational careers with enthusiasm while cheering us on. This continued and even picked up speed with their grandchildren. They gave us a good life and a good start. For that we are forever grateful. Their legacy lives on in our lives and in the lives of their grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Dad was a “trooper” in every sense of the word in these last few years of his life. A stroke in March of 2015 had debilitated him so that he was confined to a Jerry chair and needed constant care. Never did we hear him complain of his circumstances. He was always happy to see his many visitors. He was loved by the staff in Creative Care at The Cove Guest Home where he resided and they were very kind to him. We extend heartfelt thanks to all of the people who cared for him there. You do the work of God.
Although we are sad to be left behind, we draw great comfort and hope knowing that Dad has been “gathered to his people”, in a place that is far better, in a place where there is no more pain, and a place where his loved ones who have gone before were waiting for him to arrive. There is a celebration going on in heaven for his arrival and our loss is heaven’s gain.
Visitation for Nelson will be Friday, February 16, 2018 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at SW Chant & Son Funeral Home, 564 Alexandra St., Sydney. Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday February 17, 2018 at 3 p.m. at the Chant Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rick Barnes officiating.
Messages and memorials may be directed to Nelson’s family by visiting www.chantfuneralhome.ca,
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of...


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John D. Steele’s & Sons LTD. Monument Manufacturers
902-794-2713
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Thoms Flowers
902-849-8989
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