J. STEWART GUNN

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J. STEWART GUNN 1909 - 2002 In December of 1999 Stewart penned his own obitbulkloaduary, leaving family to fill in the dates and numbers. He wrote: "John Stewart of Winnipeg passed away at Grace Hospital on August 27, 2002 at the age of 93 years. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 63 years, Gladys (nee Hay) his daughter Judith of Canmore, AB; son Gordon (Joy) of Winnipeg; grandchildren, Geoffrey (Shelley), Lisa (Kevin Cusack), Stephen (Christine), Andrew; and great-grandchildren, Melissa, Samantha, Keaton, Sara, Riley and Katy. Stewart was born in Winnipeg on February 16, 1909. Son of Robert Robertson Gunn and Lyley Eleanore Gunn, he was educated in Winnipeg then later joined the family firm of John Gunn & Son, General Contractors. Serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1939 to 1945 as Air Armament Officer, he then entered a lengthy career with the Federal Government as Conciliation Officer and Mediator, retiring in 1973 from the position of Acting Director, Conciliation and Arbitration Branch, Department of Labour, Ottawa. Stewart was an ardent sports and wildlife enthusiast, spending many enjoyable seasons with family and friends at shoreline cottages on Lake Winnipeg. Cremation has taken place and a graveside memorial service with family will be held on September 4 at Chapel Lawn. Postscript: To hear the honk of wild geese coming off the lake and over the shore and to roam the adjoining fields is joyous." We, his family, are left to say what Stewart didnt. He cared very much for Gladys siblings, Dorothy, Betty, Ruth and George and their spouses. He was raised an only child, having lost his mother in the 1918 flu epidemic when he was just nine, so to be welcomed into the Hay clan as a young adult was a very positive experience for him. Their friendships endured to his death. We will miss forever this intelligent, kind, inspirational, generous, fun-loving man. May the Lord bless you and keep you while we are absent one from the other. We would like to thank all the staff on 3 North at the Grace Hospital for their professional, compassionate care of our Dad and husband during his short stay there. He remained alert, interested, content and communicating well almost to the end and then he peacefully left us. If friends so desire, contributions may be made in Stewarts memory to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (an organization that buys land and protects it for wildlife), 110 Eglinton Ave. W., Ste. 400, Toronto, ON, M4R 1A3, 1-800-465-0029; or The Friends of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, 15 Conservatory Dr., Winnipeg, MB, R3P 2N5. A private family service will be held on Wednesday, September 4 at Chapel Lawn.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 31, 2002