Obituary for John William Allen Bonser
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John W.A. Bonser P.Eng
March 1, 1940 Walsall, England - September 10, 2020 Brockville, Ontario
John William Allen Bonser passed away peacefully at the Brockville General Hospital, Garden Street site, on September 10, 2020 at the age of 80. The beloved husband of 54 years to Joan Angela and loving father of Michael (Vicky) in Ottawa, and Stephen (Angela) in Sydney, Australia and lovingly remembered by his four grandchildren Kai, Luke, Sam, and Sophie. The son of William Allen and Catherine Mary (deceased), John is survived by his brother Michael John Bonser and sisters Catherine Mary Bloxam and Margaret Sue Houston (Ian), all in England and by many nieces and nephews.
John loved life and adventure, coming to Canada in 1965 after obtaining a BSc in Civil Engineering from Leeds University, England in 1962. A passionate environmentalist with a commitment to natural resource stewardship, he quickly found his professional passion joining Parks Canada in 1967 and serving for 30 years in a variety of assignments in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, with a lengthy stint as the Superintendent of the Rideau Canal - a position he loved dearly.
A long time Brockville resident, John served as President or a board member of many tourism and historical organizations, including the Ontario Historical society during its Centennial year. He volunteered his time with many local organizations, and particularly enjoyed sharing his love of French with good friends and enthusiastic classmates. He will be remembered as a loving “Papa”, an avid golfer, a keen cryptic crossword enthusiast, and someone who enjoyed the occasional glass of well-aged scotch with friends.
John will be deeply missed by family and friends. He lived life with honesty, integrity, compassion and respect for others. He loved being part of the Brockville community and always had a kind word or deed for those who needed a helping hand.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 66 Church Street, Brockville on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 10 am followed by interment at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Covid protocols and masks are required.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Brockville and District Hospital Foundation Palliative Care will be gratefully acknowledged.
Please take a moment to send a message of condolence to the family or share a special thought of John on the Memory Wall above. Thank you.
"An ordinary man. An extraordinary man"
John W.A. Bonser P.Eng
March 1, 1940 Walsall, England - September 10, 2020 Brockville, Ontario
John William Allen Bonser passed away peacefully at the Brockville General Hospital, Garden Street site, on September 10, 2020 at the age of 80. The beloved husband of 54 years to Joan Angela and loving father of Michael (Vicky) in Ottawa, and Stephen (Angela) in Sydney, Australia and lovingly remembered by his four grandchildren Kai, Luke, Sam, and Sophie. The son of William Allen and Catherine Mary (deceased), John is survived by his brother Michael John Bonser and sisters Catherine Mary Bloxam and Margaret Sue Houston (Ian), all in England and by many nieces and nephews.
John loved life and adventure, coming to Canada in 1965 after obtaining a BSc in Civil Engineering from Leeds University, England in 1962. A passionate environmentalist with a commitment to natural resource stewardship, he quickly found his professional passion joining Parks Canada in 1967 and serving for 30 years in a variety of assignments in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, with a lengthy stint as the Superintendent of the Rideau Canal - a position he loved dearly.
A long time Brockville resident, John served as President or a board member of many tourism and historical organizations, including the Ontario Historical society during its Centennial year. He volunteered his time with many local organizations, and particularly enjoyed sharing his love of French with good friends and enthusiastic classmates. He will be remembered as a loving “Papa”, an avid golfer, a keen cryptic crossword enthusiast, and someone who enjoyed the occasional glass of well-aged scotch with friends.
John will be deeply missed by family and friends. He lived life with honesty, integrity, compassion and respect for others. He loved being part of the Brockville community and always had a kind word or deed for those who needed a helping hand.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 66 Church Street, Brockville on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 10 am followed by interment at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Covid protocols and masks are required.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Brockville and District Hospital Foundation Palliative Care will be gratefully acknowledged.
Please take a moment to send a message of condolence to the family or share a special thought of John on the Memory Wall above. Thank you.
"An ordinary man. An extraordinary man"