Obituary of KENNETH JOSEPH TAYLOR

Kenneth Joseph Taylor passed away peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at the age of 85, with family by his side.  He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Doris Taylor, and his wife of 61 years, Frances Taylor. He is survived by his four children: Ken Jr. and Lori Taylor, Rob and Sharon Taylor, Mike Taylor and Leanne Doucette, and Linda and Darrell Rach; his 10 grandchildren: Donna with Zach, Dylan with Jennah, Sarah with Scott, Tia-Rae, Maddyson with Christopher, Brody, Ariana, Jasmine with Otto, Jayden and Jordana; and his 10 great-grandchildren: Riley, Jacob, Vivian, Abagail, Elizabeth, Victoria, Olivia, Jaxton, Oakley and Jasper. 

Ken was born and raised in Winnipeg. He attended school in Elmwood and worked at various jobs as a teenager, before he and Fran started running their own businesses together. Ken and Fran met at a dance at Bronx Park in 1957 and were married June 9, 1962. Dancing remained a favorite activity for the two of them and Dad continued to enjoy dancing into his middle 80s, including at his granddaughter Donna’s wedding. 

The first business that he and Fran opened on their own was the service station Ken’s Car Clinic in 1970 on the corner of Mountain and McGregor. They turned Ken’s Car Clinic /1001 Auto Parts into Video 1001 in 1984, which eventually had seven locations. The original Video 1001 is still in operation, with Ken Jr. running it. Ken Sr. remodeled it many times over the years to what it is today.   

Along with running the business he was a jack of all trades and even built his own house on Hawthorne Place. He was great at mathematics when it came to having to fix and/or build something, he knew the correct calculations just by looking at it and drawing out the plans, despite not completing high school. He was always there to help anyone that needed his expertise in building, plumbing, and anything mechanical. 

In his down time, Kenneth enjoyed traveling with Fran and spending time at Hillside Beach Trailer Park, spending summers there with his family and making many good friends throughout the years. Eventually he was able to see his grandkids and great grandkids enjoying their summers there as much as he had.   

Cremation has taken place.

A Funeral Service will take place at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street on Tuesday, March 19, 2024   at 11:00 a.m.