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Family pleads for help finding missing 81-year-old Winnipeg man with dementia

Family of an 81-year-old with dementia who went missing two days ago in North Kildonan are repeating their calls for help for his safe return.

As 'days go on it gets less optimistic,' says son of Earl Moberg; last known location Bunn’s Creek Park

CBC News ·
Two side-by-side photos of a man with a grey beard, wearing a navy-and-white plaid shirt, and a navy blue hooded jacket.
Winnipeg police say Earl Moberg could be wearing a navy blue jacket similar to the one shown above. HIs family held a news conference Thursday, two days after he was last seen, in Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park. (Winnipeg Police Service)

Family of an 81-year-old with dementia who went missing two days ago in northeast Winnipeg are repeating their calls for help to ensure his safe return.

Police tracked the last known location of Earl Moberg to Bunn's Creek Centennial Park on McIvor Avenue on Tuesday using his cellphone signal data, said his brother Doug Moberg.

"The last few days have ben very stressful for me and my family because of course we don't know where he is," said Doug, flanked by Earl's wife Brenda Moberg and son Kurt Moberg, during a news conference in the park Thursday afternoon. 

Earl is a cancer and polio survivor who spent years teaching in northern Manitoba and Alberta before he retired, said Doug.

He was reportedly last seen at about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

He has advanced stage dementia and is an avid walker known for walking several kilometres at a time and tends to shuffle as he goes, said Doug.

"Even though he is 81 years old he is in good physical shape and he is a walker … but with dementia he can go two blocks now and doesn't know where he is," said Doug. "So, he'll be confused and … may be reluctant to share the position he's in."

A man in a maroon jacket, sunglasses and red and black baseball cap looks to the side.
Doug Moberg said his brother Earl Moberg is an avid walker known for walking several kilometres at a time. Doug asked that Winnipeggers check their properties, buildings, sheds and cars for him. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

Earl is described as five-foot-seven with a medium build, short white hair and a white beard. He was wearing a dark blue or green parka when he was last seen.

Police said it's also possible he was wearing beige cargo pants and a navy blue military-style jacket similar to what he is wearing in photos supplied to the public to help find him.

His son Kurt said he has been looking for his dad everywhere in the past two days.

"I can't find anything, I don't know where he could be because there's no trace of him," Kurt said of his father. "As the days go on it gets less optimistic."

A sun sets behind trees in a park.
Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park on McIvor Avenue is the last known location of Earl Moberg. Family say police tracked his cellphone location the park two days ago and haven't had a signal since. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

Doug asked community members who live around Bunn's Creek Centennial Park to check their properties, sheds and cars.

Police ask that anyone with information regarding his whereabouts contact the missing persons unit at 204-986-6250.

"We hope that the community will support this search for him and it comes to a good conclusion," said Doug.

A man in a black jacket and grey hood looks to the side.
Kurt Moberg said he hasn't turned up any signs of his father Earl Moberg since he was last seen on Tuesday. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

With files from Gavin Axelrod

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