JAMES EDWARD AUSTIN PEACH

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JAMES EDWARD AUSTIN PEACH James Edward Austin Peach, of Balmoral, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 19, 2005, at Teulon Hunter Memorial Hospital, at the age of 89. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the Balmoral United Church, with Rev. Ken Anstie and Barbara Ann Bryant-Anstie officiating. Austin Peach was born on August 27, 1915 in Stonewall, MB to Harry and Ada Peach. He grew up on the family farm near Balmoral, attended Good Hope School and high school in Balmoral. In 1942, he received his Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba. In July 1943, Austin married Lois Lund of Stonewall. They made their home, and raised their three children on the family farm. Throughout his career, Austin worked with his parents, his wife and his son, specializing in milk production. Always dedicated to quality, they received an award in 1959 for having the top production of all of the herds in the Dairy Herd Improvement Association in Manitoba, and in 1975 for the best quality milk, based on the lowest bacteria count. Austin retired from dairy farming in 1985, but continued to participate actively in other aspects of the farm operation. In retirement, Austin and Lois travelled to visit family, friends and places in Canada and the U.S.A., by plane, in his camper van, or with other family members. He always preferred taking the backroads, to see the country and to inspect the crops. Once he got the hang of it , he found that he really enjoyed using his computer to communicate with family and friends, and to write his memoirs. Since his wife's passing, he learned many housekeeping skills, and became famous among his Home Care workers for his homemade chocolate chip cookies. In the community, Austin used his talent for organization and his attention to detail as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Stonewall Herd Improvement Association for 33 years. He also served on the Victoria Cemetery Committee for many years, and recorded valuable information from visitors to the cemetery. He was one of the original Directors of the Rockwood-Victoria Co-op, and was on the Good Hope School Board. As a faithful member of Balmoral United Church, he served on the Committee of Stewards and the Session. His lifelong interest in woodworking was heightened by the instruction received at university and broadened by his work on the family home and farm buildings. In retirement, he created many smaller projects such as crokinole boards. He enjoyed metalworking including blacksmithing, and the challenge of repairing and modifying farm machinery. As he liked working with young people, Austin taught in the Balmoral Union Sunday School, first a class of girls and then the senior boys. In his later years, he taught woodworking to several eager young 4-H club members. Austin had a great sense of humour, a ready chuckle and a twinkle in his eye. He loved to tell jokes and stories, to work puzzles of all kinds, and to play practical jokes. His ability to recall many details of family, farm, church, and community happenings over the years, amazed his family and friends. Surviving to cherish his memory are, his son, John Peach, daughter-in-law Charlotte; his daughters, Marilyn Mitchell and son-in-law, Robert, of Amarillo, Texas, and Brenda Wainman of Orillia, ON; his grandsons, Trent (Beki) Mitchell of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Kevin (Jena') Mitchell of Fort Worth, Texas; his great granddaughter, Morgan Mitchell; his great grandsons, Cameron Mitchell, and Casey Handley Mitchell; his brother, Martin Peach (Edith) of Winnipeg; his sisters-in law, Alida Thomson, of Nanaimo, BC, Jesmond (Glen) Thompson of Gimli and Vicki Lund of Richmond, BC, and his many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Austin was predeceased by his wife, Lois, in 2000, and his son-in-law, Alfred Wainman, in April 2005. In lieu of flowers, if so desired, donations may be made to the Balmoral United Church. MacKenzie Funeral Home, Stonewall, in care of arrangements

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 21, 2005