JOHN ANTON AUGUST ESPERSEN

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JOHN ANTON AUGUST ESPERSEN December 22, 1927 - May 25, 2000 With deep sorrow the family of John Espersen regrets to announce his passing away at home in Matlock. He had been ill for the past year and is now at peace. John was born at Markland in the Interlake district near Lundar at a time when living in the country was tough. With no electricity or running water, he grew up in a home with few amenities, but with parents who loved him and siblings who were happy. He loved to tell stories of guiding, trapping, hunting and fishing on North Shoal Lake and we loved to listen to them. His optical sensitivity to sunlight came as a result of one such adventure. While running his trap line in winter he became snow blind. He was forced to wait alone in the cold until his father and brother came to his rescue. He often said he was lucky to survive and that the saying "what doesnt kill you makes you stronger" was true. His first employment was with Mumford Medland as a repairman and installer. He was with them for several years and became a valued employee, often flying into remote northern locations with his toolbox and snowshoes. Years later one of their customers remarked that there was no one who knew more about Wisconsin engines than John and he could get even the toughest ones working. Eventually John decided to establish his own business, Johns Mobile Repair Service. He specialized in the sales, installation and repair of pumps and enjoyed an excellent reputation for reliability, dependability and honest dealing with many customers throughout all Manitoba. In 1988 John decided to relax and enjoy life a little more. After selling his business he and Mary retired to Calgary. They purchased a condominium on Coach Hill and became active participants in all that Calgary and Alberta had to offer. They participated in horseback riding, bowling, bus trips to Las Vegas and entertaining friends and neighbours. He also enjoyed extensive visits with John and Elna in Africa and Jamaica as well as travelling with Jim and Alice Skillings in Australia. In the summers, he and Mary would come back to Manitoba and spend time at Matlock, an area they came to love dearly. John often said it reminded him of his youth and that he was a country boy at heart. Eventually they built their own home on the lake and John had a new series of projects to keep himself busy. Passers-by often said his lawn and garden looked like a park it was so well groomed and cared for. He loved helping neighbours with pump problems, building things with his hands such as a tree house for the grand kids and taking Duke with him on his neighbourhood watch walks. John was a kind and gentle man with a twinkle in his eye, warm, optimistic, unfailingly good humoured, genuinely interested in others, always willing to lend a helping hand and a friendly word of encouragement. We will miss him always and keep his memory close to our hearts. He is survived by his beloved wife of 21 years, Mary; brother Carly (Shirley) son Gerald (Debbie) and daughter Lori; step family, John and Elna and Larry and Cathie Licharson; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He was predeceased by his first wife Joyce (Bater) his parents, John and Elsa and his sister Maria. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 30 in the Chapel at Glen Eden Funeral Home, 4477 Main Street. Ph. 338-7111. Flowers are declined with gratitude. Contributions in memory of John may be made to Cancer Care Manitoba, 100 Olivia Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 27, 2000