RON BALKWILL

The family of Ron Balkwill are saddened by the passing of their father and grandfather on Feb. 1, 1998. Ron died peacefully at his home, as was his wish, surrounded by his family.
Dad was born in Essex County (just outside Windsor, Ont.) on May 19, 1927.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Edna; brothers, Gary and Patrick; parents, Kelly and Frances Balkwill of Windsor; and sister-in-law, Jean Adams of Sioux Lookout, Ont.
Enjoying the memory of his guiding hand are his family, Sharon and John Myers of Fort Frances and their children, Jennifer Myers of Fort Frances, and Carole Anne and Sam Service of Vancouver, B.C.; great-grandchildren, John Antony and Rachel; Don and Jo-Anne Balkwill of Toronto; John and Chris Balkwill of Kenora and their children, Tyler and Katie; Alan and Joy Balkwill of Winnipeg and their children, Nicolas and Adrian; and Neal and Cindy Balkwill of Winnipeg and their children, Ainsley, Kelly, and Grandpa’s favourite pet, Neal’s dog, Bailey.
Ron’s love for the outdoors inspired him to obtain a degree in Forestry from the University of Toronto and subsequently to pursue a distinguished career with the Department of Land and Forest (Ministry of Natural Resources), for which he is remembered and well-respected by those who worked with him and those who had the honour of dealing with him.
Next to his family, Papa best loved woodworking, music, and reading. He was a fine craftsman and a mentor to many, encouraging independent and analytical thought in his children.
Many happy hours were spent by Ron enjoying Lake of the Woods in his boat and at Coney Island, where he spent many memorable occasions with his family.
Grandpa was cremated and will be interred in Fort Frances in the spring.
Sincere thanks to Dr. Beveridge for listening and providing attentive care, and to the Home Care team for their compassion.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ron’s name may be made to the Kenora Public Library, 24 Main St., Kenora, Ont., P9N 1S7.
To celebrate his life, friends were invited to his home at 1225 Minto Ave. on Wednesday, Feb. 4 from 2-4 p.m.
A marked quote from Robert Service:
Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true:
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer:
There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be better for you
And at last when you die, let this be your cry:
Carry on, my soul! Carry on!