It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, comrade and friend, Bill McKeigan, on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at the Veteran’s Unit of Harbourview Hospital in Sydney Mines, at the age of 100. Born in Sydney Mines on September 15, 1916, he was the son of the late William Alexander “Long Willie” and Emma (Crowther) McKeigan.
Bill enlisted with the Cape Breton Highlanders in 1937. Along with his brother Johnny, Uncle Albert and many of his friends he was assigned to Company “C” and they trained locally. As a member of the reserves he was immediately called upon when war broke out in 1939. He spent the first years of the war guarding local strategic installations and maintaining a coastal watch. In November 1941 he was sent overseas where the Highlanders were merged into the 5th Armoured Division. Bill was deployed to Sicily and subsequently served in Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. As a driver with the 5th Armoured, Bill regularly transported supplies to the front lines. These loads often consisted of petrol which made him a choice target for the enemy. On one occasion he and a friend were spared when an armour-piercing round hit the pavement between them and ricocheted away without detonating. Bill was a lifetime member and Honorary President of Branch #19 Armstrong Memorial Royal Canadian Legion, North Sydney. After the war Bill worked in sales for various local concerns and eventually opened his own business “Cape Breton Trailer Sales” which he operated until his retirement in 1989. He spent many happy years selling and renting trailers and was well known in the camping community. Bill was a member and lifetime elder of St. Matthew Wesley United Church in North Sydney, as well as a lifetime member of the North Sydney Kinsmen Club. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Irma; his children, Brian (Arlene), Sharise (Allan), Sheldon (Manuela) and Moira (Hughie); his eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his “baby brother,” Carl McKeigan and good friends, Harry and Alaine Taylor. He was predeceased by his daughter, Debrah; grandsons, Gavyn and Shawn; brothers, Johnny, Albie and Elmer; sisters, Marjorie and Edie. Visitation for Bill will be 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, at St. Matthew Wesley United Church with Rev. Nancy Ritchie officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Harbourview hospital, St. Matthew Wesley United Church or Branch #19 Royal Canadian Legion. Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
“Bill has gone camping”.

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