By Neil Matheson
INTRODUCTION
When Carol first asked me to get up and talk today, I wasn't sure that I could do this.
The reason, is that John was much more to us than just a brother-in-law and we loved him
very much.
FIRST KNEW HIM
I'm first aware of knowing John, as a Lifeguard at our neighbourhood pool. We were always
happier when he was on duty, because he was so much more fun than the other lifeguards. He
was the type that let us do more boy things as well as joining in at times.After that, I
remember him as an older teenager, who everyone knew, was very popular, free-spirited and
full of fun. Carol, I think it was about this time, when he was a topic of Mom's Bridge
Club, wasn't it?
CAROL STARTED DATING
When my sister started to date him, I was very proud, as he was considered such a neat guy
and my neighbourhood buddies were envious.He was the type of guy, who would come up to
visit Carol and end up outside with us guys, playing ball or road hockey, or whatever. He
was our BIG BUDDY. He always said that Carol told him that Dad had Piles and he thought
she meant money, so he decided to go out with her.
HUSBAND, FATHER, SON-IN-LAW, BROTHER-IN-LAW
After they got married, things were very tough for them, as John was in the early years of
an apprenticeship and making very little income. He would never hesitate to work a double
shift, or even sometimes a triple, to try and get ahead. He also had a part-time job,
working in a gas station to try and pay the bills, or buy the kids skates, or whatever his
family need was at that time. I wonder if his kids even know this, but he was also a
soldier (or week-end warrior), for a short time to try and help out. We remember, it was
so much fun to have him around at Xmas time, as he would get us something for Xmas and
then be the first one to play with these things, before we had the chance. They would
arrive at my parents home before we would even be up and John would be under the tree,
playing with the new stuff. Rick remembers, he would sneak his Brussels sprouts over to
John, without Mother noticing and John would help him out by eating them.
NEVER SAID NO
He was the type of guy, that I don't think, ever said No to anyone. He was my mentor, and
as a teenager, I could call on him to help me out of jams. Some of these were a little
embarrassing situations, but he would take-care of it and no questions asked. He was the
type who would help my parents out in the store, or if they were tied-up, take Rick and
Norm out to Cub Camp.
ROLE MODEL
As a family man, professional in his career and an overall great human being, he was a
role model for all of us. He was someone that we tried to measure up to. To our parents,
he was an exceptional son-in-law and was like one of their own. He was always well liked
by his peers at work, his employer and his team-mates on his Old Timers hockey teams, that
he had such a passion for. He was the type of man that, that always, took great pride in
doing a good job, at whatever he did. By the look at the wide range of people here today,
we can tell what he meant to everyone in his personal life and at work.
HIS LIFE
There is obviously many definitions of a great man, but to us, John was a great man. It is
time that we celebrated John's life and what he contributed to all of us. When talking to
Carol over the last while, she told me numerous times, how calm John was and how much he
was at peace. I think he may have known something that we don't really know and it's time
that we were at peace as well. He has finally been released from the prison that his body
had become. Let's take comfort that he is now with our Lord.
