JOHN HOWARD CLEMENT

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JOHN HOWARD CLEMENT

September 5, 1955 - September 12, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of John. He will be dearly missed by his daughters, Melissa Degroot, Jaclyn Gard (Brent) and Victoria Buick (Brett) and grandchildren, Ashley, Kayden, Lillian, Brayden and Hannah.

He was predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Gytha (nee Gudmundsson), sisters Geraldine Bannatyne (Robert) and Eileen Groff, brothers William (Bill) Clement and Terence Kenifick, brothers-in-law Maurice Lannoo and Ted Groff and sister-in-law Lena Kenifick. He is survived by his sisters Joan Lannoo and Jill Paskewitz (Greg) and sister-in-law Debbie Clement (nee Lytle), as well as many nieces, nephews and their families.

John was born in Winnipeg on September 5, 1955. He grew up and spent most of his life in Charleswood. He was often referred to as “The Knife” by close friends and family with the catchphrase “who’s sharper baby?”

In his youth he was active in many school and community sports, most notably, baseball, hockey and curling. He played hockey and little league baseball at the local Varsity View CC and Eric Coy arena, where he made many lifelong friendships. Later in life, he curled as a member of the Charleswood Curling Club and Legion and attended multiple bonspiels across Manitoba and surrounding areas.

John worked at various jobs over the years. In his youth, he started out by delivering newspapers along a paper route in his neighbourhood, watering plants at the Shelmerdine nursery and working for his brother at his pool hall and sports shop. Later on, he worked for Curtis Carpets and dabbled in stuccoing. In the 1980s, John joined the family pool business and later on became a partner. He continued to run Aqua Pleasure Pools until his recent retirement in 2023.

He married Patricia (nee McCrea) in 1987 and gained a step-daughter, followed shortly thereafter, by the birth of his two other daughters. John was most proud of his children and grandchildren. He loved talking about them and showing off pictures to anyone that was interested.

He was a very sociable person and attended most events in the community, as well as being a regular patron at various establishments. He was known to host multiple gatherings, starting at a young age at his family’s home, and later at his own residence.

He was a passionate sports fan and loved cheering on his favourite teams and enjoyed picking out the winners each week on his Proline tickets. John also had a deep passion for horse racing. Over the years, he owned multiple horses and spent countless hours at Assiniboia Downs.

John was great with numbers and dates and never missed calling those closest to him first thing in the morning to wish them a happy birthday.

He was an avid collector of both coins and hockey cards and loved to hunt (mostly small game and fowl). His quirks included, making nicknames for people that he met and little phrases that he was known to recite.

He touched the lives of so many and he will be greatly missed.

“Sun’s shining, everybody’s happy, no mosquitoes”

Please join us for a Celebration of John’s Life being held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Assiniboia Downs (Main Floor), 3975 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Winners Foundation of Canada Inc., 54 Optimist Way, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2Y 2J4 or to Final Furlong, 70109 Willowdale Rd., Cooks Creek, Manitoba, R5M 0G6

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 20, 2025