WILLIAM (BILL) JOHN JONES

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WILLIAM (BILL) JOHN JONES With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and Grumpa', Bill Jones ( Carol's husband ), on Sunday, April 18, 2010. Remaining to forever cherish Bill's memory are wife, Carol; son Will; daughter Susan (Rolan); grandchildren Aiden and Daryn Farrant; sister Rita Hewak; brother Ivan (MaryLou); brother-in-law Dave (Helen) Bodnarchuk; sisters-in-law, Bernice Jones and Marg Ohm; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends, in particular his best man', Moe Hogue (Helen). He was predeceased by his parents; daughter Jeri-Anne; sister Connie as a toddler; brother Walter; in-laws, John and Margaret (nee Gordon) Bodnarchuk; sister-in-law Jeannie Cowie; brothers-in-law Art Bodnarchuk and Ron Cowie. Bill was born on October 12, 1932 in Winnipeg to Taffie and Elsie (nee Wuirch). As a St. James boy he attended Assiniboine School and St. James Collegiate, and excelled in lacrosse at Deer Lodge Community Club. In 1951, as an Army Cadet Captain he won the Best Cadet Trophy at Camp Dundurn. Rather than take a commission in the Army, Bill decided to join the Navy as an ordinary seaman. On HMCS Quebec he received his bosun's call as the Best Ordinary Seaman Class 17. It was during the Korean conflict that Bill served on several destroyers as a Radar Technician. Bill never forgot his salty' vernacular as he recounted many tales of his navy life. Shortly before his five years were up, he was flown from Okinawa to hospital at HMCS Naden . While recovering, he taught classes in Radar Plotting. Along came a young Radar Rate Wren who became his pupil, and then his life partner for 53 years. Bill and Carol were amazed to discover they lived only a few streets from each other in St. James. He received a medical discharge and they were married February 16, 1957 in St. James. Bill became the Storekeeper for City of St. James Public Works, and eventually was head hunted by Empire Water Works to open a branch in Yorkton, SK. While in Yorkton, he volunteered for many community activities, and taught Sunday school. Bill very much enjoyed his time as President of the Yorkton Terrier hockey club. In 1967 he was commissioned and appointed a Sub-Lieutenant in the Yorkton Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps ( Orkney ). Returning to Winnipeg gave him the opportunity to put on large dinners and barbecues for family and friends. When Empire Water Works owner passed away suddenly, Bill left the company and took temporary jobs in waterworks, then found interesting and varied employment with Jack Perrin at the Fort Garry Hotel. He also worked summers at Roads and Grounds, CFB Winnipeg. He and Carol enjoyed many trips and working diligently together as life members of the Huntington Society. Bill was also proud to be a Master Mason. On Wednesday, May 5, 2010 Bill's Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 p.m., in St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, 455 Douglas Avenue, North Kildonan, and Rev. Fr. Walter Klimchuk, presider. Interment will follow in Brookside Cemetery, 3001 Notre Dame Avenue, after the reception. Jeri-Anne will also be interred with her Dad at this time. In memory of Bill, donations to the Huntington Disease Resource Centre, 200 Woodlawn Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3J 2H7, would be much appreciated. He never passed by anyone without making them laugh with a joke, trying to lighten people's lives at his every step, even in sickness. We will all remember Bill with love and he will be greatly missed.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 01, 2010