JOHN ANDREW ADVENT

It is with great sadness that the family of John Andrew Advent announces his passing on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at Rainycrest Long Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont.
John was born April 4, 1919 in Whitemouth, Man., the youngest son of the late Andrew and Agatha Advent.
The family later moved to the Split Rock River in Dewart Township, where they homesteaded.
John attended school at Dewart #1. His first job was as a labourer on a government make-work project building a local road.
He left the Dewart area in 1942 to join the Canadian Army. He served in Britain and Europe for three-and-a-half years, taking part in the invasion of Italy.
He returned home in 1946 and took up logging in the North Branch area.
John married Marjorie Clement in August, 1952. They lived in the teacherage at the Dewart School until John’s Veteran’s Land Agreement came through. They then moved to the “Anderson Farm” north of Stratton and ran it as a dairy farm for 25 years until their retirement in 1977.
After the farm was sold, they moved to Stratton and spent another 25 years in the former Bindas home, where John indulged his love of the land by gardening.
In 2003, they relocated to Fort Frances and eventually moved to Rainycrest.
Although his formal education ended before Grade 8, John had a passionate love of learning with special interest in history, geography, and politics. He also enjoyed debating his views, particularly with his brothers, Joe and Frank, and his daughters, Janice and Kathy.
Perhaps because of his farming career, he also was intensely interested in the study of weather, faithfully tracking, recording, and analyzing weather patterns over many years. He also enjoyed dancing.
As well, he served on the Morley Central School Board and as a director of Vacationland Dairy for several years.
John leaves behind his loving wife of 57 years, Marjorie; their children, Janice (Ian Gordon) of White Rock, B.C., Howard (Lori Cress) of Stratton, Ont., Kathryn (Dennis) Beauchene of Dryden, Ont., and Vicki (Gareth Parry) of St. George, Ont.; and his grandsons, Andrew and Kristofer Advent.
Also surviving are his sisters, Jocelyn (Rose) Wise of Vancouver, B.C. and Margaret Advent of Kelowna, B.C.; in-laws, Kathleen Advent of Rainy River, Ont., Max and Louise Clement of Atikokan, Ont., Don and Eunice Clement of Factor Lake, Ont., and Maxine Werner of International Falls, Mn.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He was predeceased by his parents, Andrew and Agatha Advent; his beloved first-born daughter, Debra Louise; infant brothers, Peter and Stephen; sister, Mary Kozachenko and husband, Joe; sister, Vickey and husband, Blondie Bates; brothers, Joe and Frank, and sister-in-law, Olive; and brothers-in-law, Clarence Sandboe, Robert Wise, Walter Comensa, and Horst Werner.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 27, 2009 at the Stratton United Church, with Rev. Carl N. Emke officiating.
Interment was at the Stratton Cemetery immediately following the service, and a reception followed at the Stratton recreation centre.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Kenora and Rainy River District Alzheimer’s Society c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com