JOHN LAWRENCE (LARRY) JAMIESON

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JOHN LAWRENCE (LARRY) JAMIESON June 14, 1940 - June 14, 2007 On his 67th birthday Larry Jamieson was released from the disease and pain that restricted his mobility and prevented him from painting, drawing and sculpting. For him, the inability to create was a living death. He is survived by his wife, Rene; his sons, Christopher and David; daughters-in-law, Shelley and Josy; grandsons, Andrew, Alex and Dan and step-grandson Clayten, and his loving feline companions Paul, Molly and Chelsea. Larry was born and raised in Winnipeg, the adopted son of John and Christine Jamieson, and attended the University of Manitoba School of Art. He and Rene met when they were both apprentices at the Manitoba Theatre Centre and they married on August 31, 1961. Larry enjoyed a varied career, working as a theatre set designer for several companies, and as a Christmas Parade designer, and window display designer with Eaton's. In 1969, he joined the design staff at the Museum of Manitoba. He left the Museum in 1976 to become house husband, chief cook and bottle washer at the Jamieson domicile. (Larry's home-baked buns and coffee that was strong enough to double as rocket fuel were much appreciated by members of Rene's church family and the many friends who dropped by for the Sunday bun fight'.) He also taught art with Wayne Brueckner and Ken Voth at the Symposium, and later gave art lessons in his own studio. One of his best (and favourite) students was his son David, who has inherited his father's gift. In 1993, Larry was diagnosed with emphysema and during the last two years of his life the disease confined him to his home, where he spent hours reading always non-fiction or poetry, and listening to his favourite music (primarily Bob Dylan). Larry's Random Access Memory was a byword among his family and friends. He could never remember important stuff like birthdays and his wedding anniversary, but ask him to recite the lyrics of any Dylan song and he was off to the races! Despite his debilitating illness and the accompanying bouts of depression, Larry and Rene could still see the funny side of life, and that was how they spent their last hour together, laughing and joking. He will be remembered by his sister-in-law, Pat, her husband, Len and their daughter Pamela and her family, dear friends the Rev. Canon Tony Harwood-Jones and Heather Ann Dixon and their children, (to whom he was known as Fluffy), Tanis and Leah Moore (wife and daughter of the late Harold Moore, one of Larry's dearest friends), Drs. Dan and Kay Stone and their children, Gary and Susan Styrchak and their children, Art and Joan Walter and their children, and Louise Walters, and many others whose lives he touched. Larry was unique and something of an eccentric, and also a man of integrity, with a gentle spirit. Special thanks are due to the Rt. Rev. Bob Osborne, the Rev. Canon Tony Harwood-Jones and Heather Dixon, and Shelley Jamieson for their love and support for Rene. Thanks also to the City of Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services, the Health Sciences Centre Adult ER staff especially the triage nurses, Drs. Schellenberg and Al-Haini, nurses Ruth and Brigitte, and to Drs. Joshua Koulack and Melanie Morris-Bruchet for their kindness and consideration. The care provided for Larry throughout was superb. Cremation has already taken place, and Larry's ashes will be interred in rural Manitoba, at a spot dear to the Jamiesons in their camping days. A celebration of Larry's life will be held at a later date, to be announced. Those wishing to honour Larry are asked to make donations in his memory to his favourite charity: Pet Rescue, 3062 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3K 0Y1. The way is on! (Lao-Tsu) NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 17, 2007