Stanley Ward, a local war hero and former mill executive, passed away peacefully at his Fort Frances, Ont. home on Saturday, April 8, 2017 nearly a week after celebrating his 95th birthday.
Stan was a lucky man. He survived several near-death experiences during the Second World War. His seven-man Halifax bomber was shot down and he was one of three airmen to parachute to safety. He later was captured by the Gestapo and held in a notorious prison.
In 1943, Stan officially was declared dead after being missing in action in Europe for several months. He spent a year in a German prisoner-of-war camp.
After the war, Stan returned to Fort Frances, where he lived a long and happy life; one marked by family activity, career achievement, community service, and friendship.
Stan is survived by his wife, Millie, and sons, Doug (Frances), Jim (Sandra), Tom, and Greg (Jan).
Stan and Millie Ward were married for 68 years and were devoted to each other, their four sons, grandchildren, Ariel, Anna, Dan, Marek, Paige, Cody, Ciara, Sydney, Greg, Amanda, Dana, and Tanner, and 10 great-grandchildren.
The pallbearers will be all of Stan’s grandchildren.
Stan’s large brood came together at a surprise birthday party held in his honour last week. Despite being tired during the event, Stan had a wide grin, a sparkle in his eyes, and talked to his teenaged great-grandchildren about their lives. He clearly was moved that nearly all his descendants had come together to pay tribute and show their love.
Six days later, Stan left this world the way he would have wanted: asleep and in his own bed.
Stan’s surviving siblings and their spouses are Olive Eisenhauer, Gladys Kerr, Marjorie and Bert Smeeth, Violet Lawrence, Sidney Ward, and Don and Sybil Ward; sister-in-law, Cheryl Lafond; and brother-in-law and spouse, Roy and Donna Hendrickson; along with many nieces and nephews and their families.
Stan was predeceased by his parents, Sidney and Florence Ward; his three brothers, Albert, Leslie, and Robert Ward; sisters-in-law, Eunice Gillespe, Donna Williams, and Joan and Elsie Ward; and brothers-in-law, Irvin “Ike” Eisenhauer, Don Kerr, Charles Lawrence, Frank Williams, and Bob Gillespe; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Nels and Minnie Hendrickson.
Stan began working in the mill office after coming home from war-torn Europe. Eventually, he became secretary-treasurer of the pulp-and-paper operation when the mill was owned by Boise Cascade.
He also served as president of the local Kiwanis Club, where he spearheaded many fundraising projects, including Sunny Cove Camp.
When his boys were young, Stan was a Cub Scout leader and a long-time hockey coach. His teams had a much better record than his long-suffering favorite pro team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Stan was an avid golfer and curler for many years, but his favourite recreation was spending time at his cabin on Rainy Lake with his family. Stan built a cabin near Bears’ Pass and loved fishing with Millie–even if they often came home empty-handed.
During most of his retirement years, Stan would drive out to McDonald’s in the west end to enjoy a morning chat session with his buddies. He continued this coffee talk habit well into his 90s.
Stan, the second-oldest of 10 children, was born April 3, 1922 to Florence and Sidney Ward of Fort Frances. He grew up in the family home near the train station, where his British immigrant father worked, and attended both elementary and secondary school here.
His happy youth with nine brothers and sisters was interrupted by the Second World War, which he joined in 1941 after enlisting at age 19 in the RCAF.
In 1943, Stan’s bomber plane was struck by a German fighter over Belgium. Four of his crew members died while Stan and three others successfully deployed their parachutes. Days later, the Belgian resistance provided Stan and the other airmen false identity papers with the aim of getting them into Spain and then back to Britain.
Months later, they were turned over by a collaborator to the Germans near the Spanish border.
Stan spent many terrifying months in prisons in Bordeaux and Paris. He was unable to contact the RCAF or his family in Fort Frances, which had been informed officially that he was presumed dead. Stan’s personal belongings in England had been given to his older brother, Albert, a Royal Air Force gunner stationed in northern Africa.
In January, 1944, almost eight months after being shot down, his identity as an airman finally was confirmed by the Germans. After being sent to a POW camp in Germany, he was able to inform his parents back home that he was alive.
After the war, Stan returned to Fort Frances and never left.
He and Millie gave much to their children and grandchildren–and that love was returned. There were plenty of cheers last weekend when the 95-year-old birthday boy blew out his final candles.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Knox United Church in Fort Frances, with Rev. Barbara Miller officiating.
Cremation has taken place, with interment in the La Verendrye Columbarium in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
STANLEY WARD
