RICHARD JOHN CORNISH (JACK) TOONE

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RICHARD JOHN CORNISH (JACK) TOONE April 13, 1915 - August 10, 2010 With his wife by his side, our husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle passed away peacefully at Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg, Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Jack is remembered with love by his wife of 65 years, Alice, his son, John (Patricia), his daughters, Gail Arnott (Ron Heron) and Mavis Ritchie, his grandchildren, Kent, Cory (Gwen), Kim, Sean, Brendan, Aidan, Marlise, Jennifer (Michael), Caslyn (Robert), John (Carol), Ryan and Shannon; great-grandchildren MacKenzie, Emma, Elliet, Gus, Jackson John, Gloria, and Luke, his nieces, Roseann and Lynda Sue (Vic) and nephews, Jim (Nadia) and Barry (Marta). Jack was predeceased by his sister, Olive. Jack grew up on his parents' farm in Maryfield, Saskatchewan. His father, Reginald John, and his mother, Emma, came from England to homestead the land. Jack achieved Grade 12 by correspondence at a time in the last century when many in the country did not achieve Grade 8. Jack moved to Winnipeg in 1943 where he met Alice and they were married in 1944. Jack started with Beatty Auto Electric when he came to Winnipeg and continued with the company's successors in management and sales until he retired from Ackland's at the age of 68, somewhat earlier than his father who retired from farming at age 86. To his lasting disappointment he was not permitted to serve his country in the Second World War even under conscription, because of medical issues that he tried many times to get the military to overlook. In his spare time, as relaxation from business, Jack was a hunter and an angler. He loved the outdoors, always returned to the farm and spent as much time as he could at his children's cottages. He was a voracious reader of everything from western novels to literature and non-fiction. Jack was also a putterer as he would call it. He loved to fix and make things. Everyone in the family knew where to get something fixed, where to borrow a tool, and the neighbourhood kids knew where to take a broken bike. He was a great believer in fixing things rather than discarding them, including relationships and friendships. Jack was first a member of the United Church as a child, then a member of the Baptist Church for all of his adult life. He attended Broadway First Baptist Church for many years and then became one of the founders of the St. Vital Baptist Church, now known as Willowlake Baptist Church, serving on the Board of Deacons in various positions. His faith and commitment to God guided him all his life and left him with absolutely no doubt as to his destination after his passing and Alice knows he will be there waiting for her. Alice or Al as he called her, was the light and love of his life for 65 years in a marriage where love never faltered. They had their intense discussions but she was his constant friend, partner and companion in all things and as his spirit drifted from his wasting body, she stayed by his side always, holding his hand and comforting him. It is impossible to describe his love and respect for her and her love for him. Next to Al , Jack's greatest joy was his family. He took great interest in each and every member of the family. He required and repeated, full reports of who was doing what, and rejoiced in the accomplishments of his offspring equally, whether those accomplishments were of the adults or the little ones, and was at his happiest when we came to see him. We were all welcome, all the time and the little ones were free to climb on his knee and crawl all over him, even in the end when it was painful to him. He was always a gentleman, a strong man, but kind and gentle. We miss him dearly. Funeral service will be held on Monday, August 16, 2010, 11:00 a.m. at Willowlake Baptist Church, 45 Willowlake Cres., Southdale. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CancerCare or Willowlake Baptist Church. We are grateful to the doctors, nurses, orderlies, staff and Mr. Swan at Victoria General Hospital for their care and compassion.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 13, 2010