Memorable Manitobans: John Sinclair “Clair” Nelin (1911-1953)

Educator.

Born at Boissevain on 12 January 1911, son of John Henry Nelin (1874-1963) and Flora Marion Smith (1884-1941), he became a teacher. He taught at Maple Grove School (1933-1935), East Tupper School (1935-1936), Moore Park School (?-?), and Mather School (1939), and was the Principal of Wawanesa School (1941-1942) before moving to Winnipeg where he taught at General Wolfe School (1944-1953) and, for the year prior to his death, was also Principal of the Kelvin Evening School. For several years he taught English to new Canadians at the Daniel McIntyre Evening School. On 23 May 1942, he married Ellen Frances Downey (1920-2007) at Brandon and they had four sons and a daughter. He died suddenly at his Winnipeg home, 1034 Clifton Street, on 26 February 1953 and was buried in the St. James Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth registrations [John Sinclair Nelin, Ellen Frances Downey], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Marriage registration [John Sinclair Nelin, Ellen Frances Downey], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Local teacher dies, taught new Canadians,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 February 1953, page 34.

Obituary [Ellen Frances Nelin], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 March 2007, page 29.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 March 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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