Dear Family Members;

Since each of our experiences and memories are different, I want to both

acknowledge that the person I am today is a result of our father&&single&&s influence

as well as share this with each of you.

Here are some of my formative experiences

1. I was 4, it was the evening of Hurricane Hazel (which, of course, I was

unaware of at the time). I had been out in the barn with Dad, “doing the

chores”. Dad had put me in a cardboard box and was carrying me into the

house. He pointed out that the sky was getting dark and a big storm was

coming.

As the storm ripped part of the roof off over the kitchen and rain dripped

into pots, sheets of tin roofing from the shed spun around in the yard and

trees whipped in the wind, I did not feel alarmed because Dad had explained

what a big storm was all about.

Today, I make use of that experience by watching my environment, making

assessments about the conditions around me and determining whether or not

the conditions are right for me to take action. In business, this awareness

has allowed me to trust in my judgement and thus, avoid risks.

2. I may have been 6 or 7 because Joe and I were “helping” Dad repair a

tiller or mower. I asked about the shape of the grease nipple where Dad was

pumping grease into the machine. He gave a reasoned explanation and

demonstration of how the grease pump fit into the rounded top of the

machine.

When I studied architecture, “detailing” was my favourite subject: how to

design joints, corners and different materials meeting in an elegant,

functional way. Thanks Dad, for helping me understand that “form follows

function”, as the great Mies Van der Rohe would have said.

3. There was an apple orchard protected by tall pine trees around each side

of the square which formed the orchard. Each tree was a different species.

We were picking apples in the fall to make apple butter and cider.

Dad explained that we needed different numbers of bushels of each kind of

Apple in order to have the apple butter taste a certain way.

He named each of the different kinds of apple trees, their flavours,

pointing out how to identify the shapes of the trees and the fruit.

I had not been aware of how distinct each plant was and how the pine trees

had been planted like a fence or bower for each special specimen to thrive.

My joy in being outdoors, having plants on my balcony, and my hope to build

a place in the country have all come from Dad&&single&&s connection to nature. He

was a compassionate farmer, fond of his animals and sensitive to the needs

of the soil.

I remember him observing that the farmers who were buying up farms,

combining them into mega farms and who did not practice “summer fallowing”

were harming the land. Today&&single&&s organic farmers are proving him to be ahead

of his time.

I love you Dad. Thanks for giving me resilience, resourcefulness and the

ability to tune into those around me. I am a better entrepreneur because of

your example.

Our deepest sympathy to the families in the death of your Father.You will be rembered in our daily prayers. Bill & Veronica Hotchkiss.

The McQuaid Family:

Remember that your loss is shared by many friends who care and that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
May you find the courage to face tomorrow in the love that surrounds you today.

Reg & Ina Finlayson

As Wilf&&single&&s daughter in law I have know him for close to thirty years. When I visualize Wilf I see a much younger man, standing at the kitchen sink peeling potato after potato – piles of potatoes to feed a family of eleven. Wilf was a strong and hard working man – he and Dolly had a never ending task of feeding and clothing and just keeping track of nine children. They must have done a pretty good job because each of those children has grown up strong and healthy in spite of the fact that some of those boys…..well, you know what I mean. Challenges. Wilf was a man of simple pleasures, family, his beloved cats, hats and bicycles. He love to ride his bike everywhere. A few years back we got a phone call from Wilf. He was distressed – he figured he was done, ready to check out, meet the Maker. The problem? He just couldn&&single&&t get up the energy to ride his bike anymore. He rode it rain, shine, knee deep snow – nothing stopped him except the fact that he was 75 years old! If I can even lift my leg up high enough to get on a bike at 55 I&&single&&d be happy. He was made of good strong stuff! He wasn&&single&&t a high living, glamourous man who travelled to distant lands. He lived and he died and he left him mark all within the area where he was born. Along with Dolly they imparted the gifts of strength, hard work and dependability into each of those nine children. This was especially evidenced when Wilf became ill. People put him first – made sure he was comfortable and had all the things around him that brought him comfort -everything from the special bakery items, the water, comfy bed……….if he “barked” for it – he got it. Thanks to you for taking such good care of your Dad when he needed you. We were laughing just the other weekend saying that “as long as Wilf was barking we knew he was still doing ok” —- Now that Wilf is silent -we&&single&&re all going to miss the barking. Wilf I wish you a safe journey to a place where you will have no more pain, no more potatoes to peel and pumpkin pie made just the way you like it! Love, Marion

As I walk through the footsteps of life I do so in the

hope of one day being half the man my father was. A man

Filled with compassion, empathy and humanity and the

Satisfaction of a job well done. A man who worked like

a mule, and as tired as he may have been always found

the extra time and energy to assist in any way the

members of his family or strangers alike. A man

focussed on the positives who spoke ill of no one,

never a swear word would pass his lips.

His life was shared with his passion for all animals,

from the early Draft Horses, to his late in life….

much prized cat &&single&&Baby&&single&&. His hand made/well devised

feeder, fed the local squirrells peanuts… (just

something to tie them over the winter, He&&single&&d say even

though it was july).

My earliest childhood memory was taking one of

his &&single&&passions&&single&& to the Seaforth Fair… Passion was in

the form of a week old black with white eye patch baby

goat who copped a thorough bath,.. brush and baby oil

in its hair and a ribbon around its neck. A walk or

maybe a drag… and a carry.. lead to a prized blue

ribbon at the fair.

My father shared my over flowing pride of the moment as

he knew &&single&&hands down&&single&& that nothing could compare to the

beauty of a stubborn baby goat.

Love them or hate them you can&&single&&t walk past them , he remarked.

In todays society a man like my father would be,… or

should be endowed with medals for raising a lively ,if

not rowdy family of 9. Just the sheer patience

necessary to raise 5 boys that bordered on ferrall.. is

enviable. I hope one day to mature into that wisdom

that leads to such patience.

I am sure that all his family would agree that the

difficult job of raising such a large family along side

mother &&single&&DOLLY&&single&& was well done. I think often if there

was anything I would change about those tough growing

years and I proudly say I would change nothing. We are

what we are today as a result of their upbringing.

I hope that after his long and challenging path that

dad finds his next journey full of everything this life

may have lacked.

I will always keep you formost in my mind and heart as

a humble, silent achiever whose life was steered by the

needs of your family and any person fortunate enough to

cross your path.

Dear dad, I&&single&&m proud to call you my father . I&&single&&ll miss

you dearly. Thanks for everything.

Love always, your son Paul REST IN PEACE MATE.!!

My sincere sympathy to all of you during this time of sadness. May you each take comfort in your special memories of your husband, father & grandfather. Remember the good times, as I&&single&&m sure with your big family there were lots of them.
Keeping you in my thoughts & prayers.
Trish (Rimmer) MacGregor

Thank you Lord for sharing Dad with us, even though it seemed a fairly short period of time you touched our lives with a gentle, kind touch. Thank you for being our Dad and Grandpa. May St Francis and St Christopher be at your side until we meet again as we never had our last goodbyes as we expected.

Please look over us with a gentle hand keeping us on the straight and narrow as you always have. We will certainly miss you ……love Von, Joe and the boys

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time, especially to Dolly and the girls we knew.

Dear Family:
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.

To Dolly and family.
My deepest condolences to you all on the passing of your husband and father. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tracey McKee
Budapest, Hungary