Ray Roger Henschell

Ray Roger Henschell, aged 86, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, at Pinawa Hospital after an illness.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Erika; his four children, Roger (Holly), Perry (Audrey), Marty (Andrea), and Bobbi-jo; his eight beloved grandchildren: Harley, Halle, Ella, Indiana, Sawyer, Dylan and Russell. He was predeceased by his parents, Emma and Alex Henschell and his brother Robin ( Eileen).

Ray was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He spent the first years of his life between the family homestead and his father’s trapline on Crowduck Lake in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. His father, Alex, passed on a legacy of love for the outdoors, teaching Ray and his brother Robin how to fish, hunt and work the trapline. Ray carried this passion throughout his life – working his line as well as sharing his knowledge and historical items with local museums and the Whiteshell Trappers Association.

As a young man, Ray met Erika Rauser. He went home and told his mom “This is the one”. He knew he had met the love of his life. True to his joking nature, Ray proposed to Erika on April Fool’s Day and the two were married on August 26, 1961.

Ray attended Red River College to study radio and television. He started work in construction, moving to security at the Atomic Energy Laboratory (AECL) in Pinawa. He was then hired by AECL as an environmental technician. For over 25 years, he skillfully blended his time on his trapline, his farm and his work as an environment technologist for AECL.

Ray found his true life’s calling in the great outdoors. He and his brother Robin followed in the footsteps of their parents, becoming great hunters and trappers. Ray had #21 registered trapline in the Whiteshell. It covers the north end of Crowduck Lake, where he had a cabin, and all the lakes up to Horseshoe Lake, where he also had a cabin. When Ray retired from AECL, he took on work at Crow Duck Lake Camp. He helped portage visitors to the camp, spending time helping them fish and enjoy the land that he so dearly loved.

Early in their married life, Ray and Erika were able to move their young family to the Henschell Homestead. There they raised their four children to love the land and to love God. Ray, a musician who loved to sing and play many instruments, participating in musical worship at the Whiteshell Baptist Church. He helped lead the Christian Service Stockade boys, taking them on fishing and camping trips.

Ray had a full life, full of many passions and joys. If you spent any time with him, you’d know he had a great love of collectibles – he could find anything old and discarded and find a way to repurpose it. From fishing poles, to trapping memorabilia, to cars – he had one of every kind. His kids have fond memories of scuba diving for golf balls, searching for arrowheads, metal detecting – all kinds of great treasure hunts. This love has filtered down through his children to his grandchildren who all remember Gramps and his fascinating troves of goods they could search through and discover again for themselves.

When Ray was fully retired, he spent his days with Erika attending church and visiting with friends. If you ever met Ray, you met a friend – one full of stories to tell and jokes to share. He will be remembered as a man who loved his wife, his family, and the land that gave him his purpose.

Many thanks to Dr. M. Bruneau, the staff at Pinawa Hospital and the IERHA homecare for all the outstanding care they provided to Ray.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Whiteshell Baptist Church, 74158 PR 408, Seven Sisters Falls, MB, R0E 1Y0, with a viewing at 1:00 p.m. Interment will take place in Whiteshell Baptist Cemetery. Refreshments will follow in the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Nutimik Baptist Camp in Ray’s memory would be appreciated.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com