Memorable Manitobans: Omer Van Walleghem (1917-2013)

Dairyman, community activist.

Born at Winnipeg on 10 November 1917, the youngest of eight children of Elodie and Adolph Van Walleghem, he and his brother Walter took over the operation of Royal Dairies in 1938 following the death of their father. They sold the business to Beatrice Foods in 1965 but Van Walleghem continued managing the dairy until its closure in the early 1970s, then he remained as a manager with the company until retirement in 1982. He served as Chairman of the Manitoba Milk Pricing Board, President (and Honorary Life Member) of the Manitoba Dairy Association, President of the Manitoba Pigeon Association, and President of the Heather Curling Club (1969-1970). He became interested in pigeon breeding and racing as a young boy and became known as the “Godfather of Racing Pigeons” throughout Canada and the United States. He died at Winnipeg on 28 May 2013.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 1 June 2013.

We thank Frances Kasper for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 February 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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