MERVIN EARL (BUD) CYR
Mervin Earl (Bud) Cyr, 88 of Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, at his residence with his family by his side following a courageous battle with cancer.
Bud was born Feb. 7, 1920 in Crozier, Ont. to the late Eugene and Grace Cyr. He spent his youth in Crozier on the family dairy farm with his four sisters. Bud graduated from Fort Frances High School where for two years-in-a-row he was awarded top student honours for his carpentry skills. Bud served in the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps, and returned to the family farm following his discharge.
On June 6, 1943, he was united in marriage with Sophie (Mabel) Kittelson and settled in Fort Frances, Ont. where he worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker, including Handberg’s resort in Lac La Croix and Sioux Narrows, Ont. Bud then began employment with Minnesota and Ontario paper mills, as a millwright, where he remained for 33 years.
Having enjoyed making fishing tackle several years prior to his retirement from the mill, Bud decided to change gears and “Lucky O Tackle Mfg” became a successful business until he decided to really “retire,” sell the business and become a man of leisure.
Being a man of “leisure” soon proved to be too leisurely for Bud, and he began to fill his days building grandfather clocks in his home workshop. While his clocks are mostly what he was famous for, Bud also turned out numerous amazing wood working projects. Throughout the years, his workshop and tools afforded Bud many productive and relaxing hours. It seems there was nothing Bud could not make or fix.
While shop work kept him busy through the fall and winter, it was the purchase of his lake home, Grandee Isle, that was to become the love of his life. Always ensuring that his amazing garden was planted and set for the summer, Bud turned his heart and mind to spending as much time at the lake as possible. Even with all the extra work requirements that went along with maintaining “two places” (as we were often reminded), Bud’s love and enjoyment of Grandee increased as time passed. It was here that all who knew him came to understand what “leisure” meant to Bud: another garden; another huge workshop; rock trails meandering the whole island; flowers; lawns; building decks; docks and gazebos; constant upkeep and remodels on the cabin and sleep cabin; and then making time for fishing. He never tired of it.
Bud was a longtime member of the Kiwanis, Loyal Order of Moose, and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Well into his senior years, Bud enjoyed hunting, and spent time as a guide, hunter, camp cook and storey teller.
Bud leaves to mourn his wife, Mabel; son, Lanny and his wife, Kathryn of Bemidji, Mn; daughter Valerie (Taffy) and husband, Richard Hallam of Fort Frances, Ont. and daughter, Wendy Cyr-Rizzi, as well as granddaughters, Erin, Meredith and Alyson; great grandson, Gavin, grampa’s “little” baldy who could bring a smile on the darkest day, all of Bemidji, Mn; and sister, Jean Hoffman of Fort Frances, Ont.
Bud is also survived by sisters-in-law, Florence Baron, Madge Baron, Delores Kittelson, Marilyn Wedenchuk, Betty (Bob) Hull all of International Falls Mn; Carolyn (Ed) Taylor of Fort Frances, Ont., Phyllis (Walter) Klay of Mosinee, Wisc., Hilda Major of Albany, Ore. as well as brothers-in-law Delbert (Arlys) Kittelson; Melvin (May) Kittelson of International Falls, Mn. and Trevor Kittelson of Warroad, Mn. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Bud was predeceased by his parents, Eugene and Grace Cyr; sisters, Inez Breckon, Erma Burnett and Mildred Stevenson.
A celebration of Bud’s life will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, from the Knox United Church Fort Frances, Ont. at 1 p.m. with Pastor Brian Keffer and Pastor Peggy Mason officiating. Interment will take place at a later date.
Pallbearers will be Ed Johnson, Brian Hebert, Alan Werenko, Dick Collett, Irwin Morphet, and Tom Kantos. Honourary pallbearers will be Jim Cuthbertson, Doug Cuthbertson, Dennis Roach, Tanner Cuthbertson, Jay Cuthbertson, and Tony O’Neil.
If desired memorial donations may be made to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, 110 Victoria Ave, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B7 or the Canadian Cancer Society, Balmoral Park Place, 920 Tungsten St, Thunder Bay, Ont, P7B 5Z6.
Online condolences may be left at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
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