Obituary of John Willoughby

John James Willoughby passed away in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at the age of 88 years. John leaves to mourn two children: Son: John (Peggy) Willoughby of Drayton Valley, AB Daughter: Judy (Leon) Briault of Lloydminster; 6 grandchildren: Angie (Chris) Mclean, Derrick (Des) Briault, Nicole and Melissa Briault, Ashley and Stephanie Willoughby; 5 great grandchildren; Brother: Howard (Lil) Willoughby Sisters: Margaret Larson and Evelyn Holt; Numerous Brothers and Sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife: Audrey Willoughby in 1996; Great Grandson: Archie John McLean in March 2007; His parents: Charles and Esther Willoughby; two brothers: George and Harry Willoughby. The funeral service was conducted from Grace United Church on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Lyn Lamers officiating. Eulogy was given by niece: Debbie Lundquist. Special Music On Eagle's Wings was sung by the United Church Choir. Music played: Grandpa tell me about the good old days and When I get where I am going. Hymns; How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace accompanied by Irene Knowlson. Honorary Pallbearers were all those who shared in Dad's life. Active Pallbearers were: Kevin Willoughby, Guy Willoughby, Dennis Weaver, Ken Holt, Wes Brandvold and Todd Larmour. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. EULOGY of John James Willoughby III Good Afternoon. My name is Debbie Lundquist, and I am a niece of Uncle John. I feel truly honored to be asked to deliver the dash of Uncle John's life. John James Willoughby III was born January 24, 1921 in Lloydminster. He was smack dab in the middle of 6 children born to Esther & Charles Willougby ~ George, Margaret, John, Evelyn, Harry & Howard. They lived south of Kitscoty with the homestead being on "Willoughby Hill", which Johnny & Judy fondly remember tobogganing and skidooing on. Uncle John went to school at West Centre School. He started school in 1927 and broke his leg that same year on the school swings. This created a School Board Meeting and while that was taking place, his mother chopped off the swings and that was the end of them. He rode a horse to school, and apparently one day rode right into the school and upset the pot belly stove. I imagine that created quite the stir with the teacher. In 1936, he attended the Vermilion School of Agriculture through a prize won at the Kitscoty Fair for showing hogs. Baseball was his first love, that is...until Audrey Brandvold came on the scene, then it became his second love. He loved to play baseball. He could run like the dickens and hit the ball far and wide. One story I heard was the he could run so fast that he could catch the train as it passed by Kitscoty to hitch a ride into Lloydminster. He was the Director of Umpires for Baseball for many years. Christmases at Grandma Willoughby's was always very special, especially sleeping in the barn. Another story I heard was that being first at the table was a good thing...to heck with washing hands first if you wanted to get any food with 3 brothers around. He quit school in 1937 to help out with the farming and threshing crews. In the summers, he helped build roads. Uncle John also dabbled in sheep farming with his 3 brothers. With the sale of these sheep, Uncle John stashed the money in a can by a fenceline in 1946 or 47. This is where they got the money to buy their first truck to haul lumber for Beaver Lumber, gravel from Haan's Gravel Pit, and later oil from the Blackfoot area to the Borradaile, Kodiak and Husky Refineries. When the trains went on strike, he and his brothers added hauling asphalt all over Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and BC. They teamed up with Roberge Brothers to do this, a business which was called Lloydminster Asphalt Carriers. They purchase land west of Lloydminster for trucking and farming. Although Uncle John was very involved in the trucking, he much preferred to do the farming, as he found that more relaxing. Over the years, they purchased land by Lashburn, and north of Maidstone. His biggest regret was not buying more farmland. They sold the trucks in the mid 70's. There was never a dull moment when you were around Uncle John. If he didn't like you...he'd tell you. He told it like it was and spoke his mind, sometimes in a very colorful way. He married Audrey Lorraine Brandvold on February 6, 1952, in this same church, although an older version. I'm told that was the same day that King George died, and Uncle John thought it was the shock of him getting married that was to blame. That marriage was blessed with 2 children ~ John James IV in 1961 and Judith Axcelia in 1963. They lived in the house that was built for his parents in 1947. Grandpa Brandvold lived with them until he passed away in 1975. Two doors down lived Harry & Ina...so Johnny and Judy couldn't get away with anything without someone catching them. One time Wayne was being a bad boy and sent to his room, Uncle John heard him crying and snuck him out the window and took him for a ride. Ina had a few choice words for him about that. Aunt Audrey and Uncle John always had company, and their home was a favorite spot to go to for any occasion, as there was always lots of food, fun and fellowship. Their black lab, Nipper, was one of his favorite dogs. In 1972, John & Audrey moved to the home on 45 Street where Judy & Leon now reside. Aunt Audrey loved this house from the first piece of wood used to build it, as they could watch it being built from their home one block north. Many barbeques, potluck meals or even just weiner roasts were enjoyed by many who are here today. Uncle John officially retired in 1979. This meant there was time to toodle around the country with Aunt Andrey, visiting family & friends. They never went very far, but enjoyed every minute of it. He knew every back road in the country. His family & friends were very important to him. Uncle John would strike up a conversation with anybody and everybody, and always came up with a common acquaintance. One time while camping in Creston BC, Uncle John went for a walk before Aunt Audrey and the kids were awake. He came back for Johnny & Judy and introduced them to Johnny Bucyk of the Boston Bruins. Uncle John was an interesting guy to talk to and had an amazing memory. He and Aunt Audrey delivered "Meals on Wheels" for about 4 years, helped get the Kitscoty history book together and published, the Oxen Tales to Jet Trails. A book which I might add, he continually read and reread. They were kept busy with activities of Johnny & Judy's. Back in the days of the United Church "Joy Singers", Uncle John and Bob Jack drove the Joy Singer Bus. One time the bus broke down at the tracks at North Battleford, so Dave McCaw, Uncle John, Bob Jack and a few other dads went back to Lloydminster for the McCaw funeral limousines. Can you imagine the look on people's faces as these kids all piled out of the funeral cars at McDonald's in Saskatoon? There were lots of fond memories of that time, from both Johnny & Judy and their Dad. A yearly tradition in their household, was to all pile in the Oldsmobile '98 on Boxing Day and head to the coast to visit Howard & Lil. Johnny & Judy were each allowed one friend along, and they would stay until school was just about to start. A great time was had by all. Another highlight in Uncle John's life was when Uncle John, Harry & Howard were honored as Oilmen of the Year in 1982, an honor that was very near and dear to them. Aunt Audrey was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1989, and when Uncle John could no longer care for her at home, she moved into the Dr. Cooke. Uncle John then moved to an apartment just north of the high school, so that he could walk everyday to see the love of his life, until she passed away December of '96. In January 1999, he moved into the Pioneer Lodge. He loved living at the Pioneer Lodge because there was always someone to visit with, watch a hockey game with, or play a game of pool. He would drive to the Shop everyday to check that Judy & Leon were doing things right. Rubus, the dog, eagerly awaited his visits too, because he always brought the morning muffin. Leon said that the first time Uncle John saw the dog, he said, "Now that's a dog!", as Rubus is a big dog, and Uncle John wasn't much into lap dogs. He also went for coffee at the Co-op in the morning and A & W in the afternoon. It was a common occurrence for he and his buddies to take drives in the country, usually ending up at Kitscoty for coffee or a meal. His hobbies included talking and telling stories, and sometimes we heard these stories over and over, and when you called him on it, he would say, "Well...it wouldn't hurt you to hear it again!" He loved to talk. One thing for sure...Uncle John was never late for any of his activities. In fact, he was always told that supper was being served one hour later than it actually was, just so he didn't show up two hours early. He enjoyed generally good health other than the prostate surgery in 2001 and a broken foot in 2008. He drove up until this past August, just before his latest surgery in Edmonton, which has left him hospitalized since. He knew the writing was on the wall, and was ready to accept anything life threw at him. He lived a full life and was ready to meet up with Aunt Audrey again. He was predeceased by Audrey in '96, great-grandson, Archie John McLean in 2007, his parents, brother George in '96 and brother Harry this last May. 2009 was a very tough year for Uncle John as he lost a number of very dear friends and family. Uncle John enjoyed his 6 grandchildren immensely ~ Angeline, Derrick, Nicole, Melissa, Ashley & Stephanie. He has been blessed with 5 great-grandchildren ~ Tahlor, Breanna, Zoe, Austin, Kaleb and a new great grandbaby expected any day. Uncle John loved to follow his grandchildren's activities. You would find him all over the country with Derrick and his hockey teammates. If you needed to get in touch with him while he was on the road, good luck...as the cell phone was always carried in the trunk...most likely so as not to disturb the interesting conversations he was having with whichever grandchild was riding with him. Uncle John had something in common with everyone - both young and old. He loved to take his grandchildren camping. He would make them Sunny Boy for breakfast, but then would feed them from the concession at the camp spot, because he didn't like to cook. To Johnny & Peggy, Judy & Leon, the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren, always remember that he loved you very much. Tuck that love away and let it help you live out your dash. A saying that he believed in and passed along to his children and grandchildren ~ "Quitter's never win and winners never quit". Another one that I came across that is so fitting for how he lived his life ~ "Don't count your days...make your days count." As we leave here today, it's okay to be sad, but let's all be glad that we were a part of John Willoughby's dash. CARD OF THANKS On behalf of the family, we would like to thank everyone who attended the service in memory of our Father and Grand father. We would also like to thank family and friends for the food sent to our home, visits, and bouquets of flowers, prayers, phone calls, emails and memorial donations in honour of our Dad. A very Special Thank you to Reverend Lyn Lamers for being with our family throughout this difficult time. To Reverend Lyn Lamers and Reverend Sue Hertell for their scriptures and special words expressed at Dad's service. To Debbie Lundquist: The stories you gathered and words you spoke were so fitting to our Dad. Wonderful job done on Dad's dash! Also special Thank you to Grace United Church Choir and Irene Knowlson for their special message thru music, to the pallbearers for being at his side. And to everyone who traveled to be with us today. Thank you to the Legacy Centre for the lunch provided after the service. A Heartfelt Thank you to Dr. Chan, staff of the 3rd floor of Lloydminster Hospital, the staff of the Dr. Cooke extended Care Centre and Home Care for special attention and comfort given to Dad. Also special Thanks to the staff and residents of the Pioneer Lodge where Dad spent 10 happy years. To Glenn McCaw and the staff of McCaw Funeral Service: We Thank you for your professionalism, friendship and guidance during this difficult time in our lives. At this time I would also like to thank family and friends for all their support given to Dad and our family during this past year. You were all there to lend an ear or with a shoulder to lean on when we needed you. You all made this past year easier to bear; the compassion and care will be remembered always. Dad always enjoyed his visits with everyone while he was in hospital and at the Dr. Cooke. Our father was a special person. He was a caring, compassionate and giving man with a touch of feistiness. After he lost Mom he lived his life for his children and Grandchildren. He has left a void in our lives. God saw him tired and felt his pain, he gently lifted him into his arms and set him free. Together for eternity with Mom. Their memories will be everlasting in our hearts and minds! John, Peggy Willoughby and Family Judy, Leon and Family