JOHN HANDBERG

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John Stuart Handberg on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014 at the age of 69 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
John will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 46 years, Donna (nee Fournier); son, Stuart and daughter in-law, Stephanie; grandsons, Dawson and Landon; brother, Jay Handberg (Cheryl); and nephews, Campbell (Cathy, with children Katie (lil’man Waylon) and Kennedi) and Curtis (Erika, with children Olivia and Robert).
John also will be deeply missed by his sisters-in-law, Elaine Mercier, Gale Niblock (Hugh), and Jane Johnstone; brother-in-law, Larry Fournier (Patrice); and many more nieces, nephews, and cousins who were very dear to his heart.
John was predeceased by his parents, Robert (Bob) and Isabelle Handberg; and his father- and mother in-law, Emile and Mary Fournier.
John was born to Bob and Isabelle (nee Campbell) Handberg on Feb. 3, 1945 in Winnipeg, Man. He was raised at Lac La Croix, Ont., where his parents owned and operated a fly-in fishing lodge, “Campbell’s Cabins and Lac La Croix Quetico Air Service Ltd.”
John boarded out in Crane Lake, Mn. for 12 years for school and graduated in 1964 from Orr High School.
He continued his education by attending Red River College in Winnipeg. There he took electrical and welding courses, which helped him greatly when he returned home to help out his parents with their resort and air service business.
On May 13, 1966, it was opening for tourist season and John met his bride to be (Donna Fournier), who was hired for the summer by his parents. John and Donna were married on Oct. 21, 1967 and continued to work for the resort until parents Bob and Isabelle retired in the early ’70s while John and brother, Jay, along with their spouses and children, continued to run the family business.
In 1976, John and Donna were blessed with a son, Stuart, and he also followed in his Dad’s footsteps working for the family business during the summer months while attending school.
Stuart grew to love airplanes like his Dad and became an aircraft maintenance engineer, making his Dad so proud of him.
Stuart also met his wife to be (Stephanie Frederickson) in 1994 at the resort, and they married on Sept. 30, 2000. They gave John two precious grandsons, Dawson (2003) and Landon (2006).
John’s life after the grandsons were born was all about them—he enjoyed taking trips with them, teaching the boys how to fish and shoot a gun, and, more important, just spending time together making memories.
John was the kindest, most gentle, fun-loving, four-wheeler and snowmobile-riding Grampa that Dawson and Landon could have ever wished for. John loved them dearly!
John was an avid hunter and fisherman. He looked forward to hunting season every fall! He loved aircraft—going to air shows with his son, Stuart, and many friends, especially the AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin.
He also loved gardening and trying new ways of growing things or new things to grow in earth boxes, and his upside down tomato plants.
John always was there to help friends and family. He could fix almost anything and everything. “If you couldn’t figure it out, you called John!”
John and Donna retired in 2003 and moved to Nickle Lake Shores, where he spent the last 10+ years enjoying retirement to its fullest! He had his routines every day, but mostly loved riding around on his four-wheeler visiting his neighbours and friends.
He loved living in his log home on Nickle Lake with Donna and was surrounded by the most fantastic neighbours, the Williamsons, Buschs, Shines, and Fontanas to name a few.
John fought a courageous battle for many years to stay here with his family he loved so much . . . he was brave and never complained. He lived life to the fullest as long as he could.
John’s memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Rev. Ralph Fluit officiating.
The honourary pallbearers were Campbell Handberg, Curtis Handberg, Dr. Richard Howden, Dennis Busch, Jason Williamson, Jeff Sandborn, and David Dill.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com