It is with extreme sadness that the family of Bryan Bonot announce his passing on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Bryan Arthur Marcien Bonot was born in Emo, Ont., on September 19, 1948, to Art and Dorothy Bonot. He spent his early childhood in Nestor Falls, Ont., before the family settled in Emo. Bryan attended Donald Young School and Fort Frances High School. In his youth you could find him on the baseball field, in the curling rink or tossing a football for the Muskies. Many summers and holidays were spent in Vassar, Man., with his cousins or at the family cabin on Off Lake.
On August 10, 1973, Bryan was united in marriage to June Haw. After briefly living in both Emo and Barwick, Bryan and June eventually chose Stratton as their home. It was in Stratton, along the Rainy River, that Bryan built the family’s log home. With his two hands he helped to build the home that was host to countless family gatherings, team parties and happy memories shared by so many; somewhere everyone was welcome. It is the place that the children and grandchildren always love to return to.
Bryan was always a hard worker. From delivering newspapers and groceries to working in mines and owning a grocery store, he has done many things over the years. With young children and working full time, Bryan completed correspondence courses in appliance repair, heating and air conditioning so that he could start his own business, Bonot Refrigeration. The business enabled him to meet many people and see every corner of our district.
Bryan was a constant and reliable presence in his community. He was a long time member of the Stratton Recreation Society and was very active in the local and regional curling scene. After playing and coaching for many years, Bryan was inducted into the Rainy River District Fastball League’s hall of fame for his contributions to fastball in our region. You could always find Bryan at every Stratton bonspiel, curling and cooking his famous roast beef; dragging the ball diamond before every home game and fishing in all of the local walleye tournaments.
Bryan was intensely proud of his children and grandchildren. He never hesitated to support them in any of their pursuits.For a man of few words he was never short on conveying his pride, his love and his support through his actions and was always prepared to do anything he could to help.
Bryan was predeceased by his parents Art and Dorothy Bonot; brother Nevin Bonot; and brother-in-law Dave Bliss.
Survived to cherish his memory by his wife June; their children Jackie (Andy) McCormick, Rick Bonot (Amanda Smith), Trevor Bonot, Giselle Bonot (Jason Brant); grandchildren Callum and Zander McCormick and Aksel Bonot; step-grandchildren Charlie and Macy Smith and Lexi and Lily Brant; sister Denise Bliss and her children Shannon (Derek) Jackson and Laureen (Brent) Lowes and their families; sister-in-law Diane Bonot and her daughter Michelle Bonot (Colin Lowery) and family.
A celebration of Bryan’s life will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. on the curling ice surface at the Stratton Recreation Centre.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Stratton Recreation Society, P.O. Box 40, Stratton, Ont., P0W 1N0.
