Long-time resident Claude (Mac) McFarland, 86, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.
Claude was born July 18, 1923 in Roblin, Ont. He was the son of Harvey J. McFarland and Grace McFarland (Foord).
At the start of WWII, Dad joing the CFC and went to Scotland. After his Forestry Co. was disbanded, he served with the Royal Canadian Engineers on the European Front.
During one of Dad’s leaves in Edinburgh, Scotland, he met and later married his wife, Ethel (Penny) Brown on March 10, 1943.
This year they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary.
After the war, Dad returned to Fort Frances, where he was employed at the local paper mill. He retired in 1983 as a paper machine supervisor.
During this time, Dad spent his leisure hunting, fishing, working on his lake home, and fishing with his grandchildren, whom he loved very dearly.
Dad was predeceased by his parents; Aunt Lucy and Uncle Tony Vandetti; cousin, Harry Vandetti; brother-in-law, Jim Gillon; and many of his wife’s family in Scotland and England.
Dad was known far and wide for his hunting, fishing, and marksmen prowess. He truly loved the outdoors, and was a superb hunting and fishing teacher to his sons.
He could build just about anything from his own pad and paper, as evidenced by the cabin he designed and built on Rainy Lake.
The McFarland family will remember many memorable family and friend get-togethers at the lake. All who knew Mac will remember his quick temper and his bark that was worse than his bite, and his soft heart.
He instilled in all of us the McFarland work ethic.
During the memorial service on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Legion Hall, many from both sides of the border reminisced about how Dad’s passing was the end of an era on Rainy Lake.
He will never be forgotten by those who owned property on the South Arm, or who just stopped by for directions, help, and even the Voyageurs who often spent the night when passing through.
Left to mourn is his loving wife and confidante, Penny; his children, Gerald (Dorothy), Diana (Keith) Jordan, Bonnie (Richard) Pautz, and Sandy (Teryl) McFarland; sister-in-law, Iza Gillon and family; the Vandetti family; and his nine loving grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario or to the charity of your choice c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont.
Online condolences many be offered at www.mem.com