Memorable Manitobans: William Chrest (1886-1963)

William Chrest Click to enlarge

Businessman.

Born in Greece in 1886, he emigrated to Canada and arrived at Brandon in 1910. A shoe maker by trade, he opened a shoe shop and also sold peanuts, popcorn and other confections from a specially designed vehicle. In 1933, he purchased what was known as the Fraser Block, where he opened a dry cleaning and shoe repair business called Chrest Dry Cleaners, with his three sons. The business would continue until 1976. He and wife Ellen had six children: Norman William Chrest (1911-1977), Christopher “Chris” Chrest (1917-2009), Esther Chrest (1918-1928), Mary Chrest (1919-2004, wife of R. J. Vandale), Irene Chrest (1921-2008, wife of E. Vernon Basrub and Bert E. McVay), and Nicholas “Nick” Chrest (1925-2013). An active member of the community, he belonged to the Rotary Club, Brandon Elks Club, Moose Lodge, and Orange Lodge. He died at his Brandon home, 460 Eleventh Street, on 18 June 1963 and was buried in the Rosewood Memorial Gardens.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Fraser Block / Chrest Block (1031 Rosser Avenue, Brandon)

Sources:

“Wm. Chrest dies at 77,” Brandon Sun, 19 June 1963, page 1.

Brandon Municipal Cemetery transcriptions.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Karen Chrest for providing information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 8 January 2024

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. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!