March 6, 1940 – September 23, 2010
It is with a broken heart that Nancy announces the passing of her dearest John in his seventy-first year. John was her soul mate and beloved friend for almost fifty years, having just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary in August.
John was the loving father of Elisabeth (Alan), brother to Joel (Margaret), Jay (Sharon), and sister, Julie. He was also the uncle to Brian (Tor), Caroline (Andre), and Robin. He was predeceased by his parents Fred and Audrey (nee Limpert), and an infant daughter, Nancy.
John graduated from Oakville Trafalgar High School, and then obtained a B.A. at the University of Toronto. With the ability to see the relationship between numbers (his daughter joked that he could be NFL – numbers were his first language), upon graduation, he joined Clarkson Gordon where, through Queen’s University, he earned his Chartered Accountant designation. He was elected as a Life Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario just this month.
After a short stint in industry he recognized his true calling was public practice. He and a good friend joined Campbell Lawless in Toronto where he spent many happy and productive years. As a change of pace, he owned and ran Northwind, a manufacturer of stoneware in Kitchener, ON. He ended his career by combining his enjoyment of golf with employment by taking on the assistant manager and accountant role at The Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, ON., and then the general manager position at The Summit Golf and Country Club in Richmond Hill, ON.
On retirement, he and Nancy moved west to the Qualicum Beach area of Vancouver Island. There he was able to indulge his enjoyment of golf, lawn bowling, and bridge. Retirement provided time to read, travel, follow the financial markets, volunteer his time on various community boards as treasurer, and provide financial advice to friends and family (yes, dad, I know the perils of credit card debt).
Throughout the last 8 years John had health issues with heart disease and faced his cancer diagnosis in December 2009 with exceptional courage and optimism. He bore the treatment with determination, dignity, and a positive outlook. When told the prognosis was poor, his response was, “that’s life,” and, “it doesn’t matter what cards you are dealt, it’s how you play the hand.” Unfortunately even that determination could not overcome the illness that ravaged his body.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, 102 – 1801 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo BC, V9S 1H1.
John, you are our hero. We will love you forever. N&L.
YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM (250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.