by Dick Primeau
ON-LINE EDITION
February 2nd, 2012
It is with great sadness that I am writing this column. On January 21st, my good friend John passed away at the age of 95. Ol’ John, as I would call him, was a wonderful man. He had a quick sense of humor and a willingness to join in on anything that looked like fun. For over 30 years, the Sheff’s and the Primeau’s were neighbours and during that time we had so many great times together.
John was quite the handyman and especially talented in repairing or building things. On a small scale he could mend our broken lawn chairs, and on a large scale he was never afraid to take on building his houseboat or to work side by side with another carpenter to build his own home next to us. He did that in 1983 when he was 65.
He often told stories about their houseboat, which he called the “Toot ’n Jon”. Many a weekend the Sheff family spent moored on a quiet inlet on the Snye or Mitchell’s Bay, or fished their way up and down the river. Every adventure had a story that was passed on to his family and friends. John loved to be with his kids and grandkids, and he taught them all the joy of fishing. The wonderful fish fries in his backyard on a hot summer evening are vividly locked in my memory. There were also quiet times when the two of us sat under his big maple tree in lawn chairs, built by him, having a beer by the water.
John was a World War II Navy Vet, an employee of Waltec and a building inspector for the town of Wallaceburg during his lifetime. For us, he was Toot’s husband, father to Jay (Pam) and Susan (Jim), grandfather to Brian, Kevin, Chris, Emily and Chelsea and our very special friend. John, you will always be remembered and loved.
Goodbye Ol’ John!
|