Cleo, at the age of 67 has sadly started his journey to the Spirit World on August 23, 2023 after a courageous battle with Leukemia and passing on at the Ottawa General Hospital where he received a stem cell transplant.
Cleo was born July 15, 1956 in Sudbury, ON to Gwen (Ozawagosh) and Ernie Wabegijig. He grew up in Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island until the age of 7, then moved with his family to the community of Whitefish, ON. In 1978, Cleo came to Thunder Bay to visit his sister Margaret and he met her friend Annette who joined them at the C.L.E. Cleo decided to stay in Thunder Bay and was persuaded into joining Margaret and Annette working for Browndale Homes at their summer camp program. Cleo and Annette quickly fell in love and were married April 25, 1980.
Cleo will be lovingly missed by his wife of 43 years, Annette; daughter Claudine (Nicholas Majdanac); sons Daniel and Jason; granddaughters Brooklyn, Ava and Danica; his mother Gwen; his sisters Margaret, Valerie (Gerald), Charlotte, Jackie (Brian), Bertha (Vic), Mary, Corinne, Vicki, Janet and Bonnie (Bill); brothers Peter and Eric as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Cleo was predeceased by his father Ernest; sister Beverly; brothers Kenny, Benny and Stephen; his brother-in-law Kurt Meawasige; his mother-in-law Marie Jean and brother-in-law Emile Jean.
Cleo was a “people person”; he could strike up a conversation with anyone. This strength was very helpful in his work as an Employment Counsellor at Mamo-Wich-It-Te-Win Employment Services and YES Employment Services. Cleo would see many clients around town and in the mall; they were always happy to greet him and chat awhile. After retirement, many former clients would say “we miss you, you should go back to work at YES” and he would laugh.
Cleo’s family and extended family were very important to him. His love for his wife Annette, his children and especially his three beautiful granddaughters, was quite evident. The girls brought a special sparkle to Papa’s eyes with their fun, spirited charm. Papa loved playing games with the girls, teaching them to fish and how to make Bannock.
Cleo’s desire to remain connected with everyone important to him would be done through text messages, often sharing his Wordle/Canuckle scores, pictures of his baking and meals, keeping up on Golf, Football and Hockey Pools as well as providing weather updates. Cleo also kept up with weekly phone calls to his mother and siblings. Cleo enjoyed gardening, bird watching, baking, golfing, fishing, camping and cracking jokes. He was happy to help anyone with anything they needed, expecting nothing in return. Cleo was the most generous and humble person you would ever meet.
A Celebration of Life will be held for all of Cleo’s friends and family at 12:00 pm on Saturday September 9, 2023 at Harbourview Funeral Centre 499 Cumberland St. N.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to the Dew Drop Inn or the Underground Gym.
