WILLIAM (BUSTER) ARCHIBALD BROWN Jr.

William (Buster) Archibald Brown Jr., 86, of Rainycrest Home for the Aged, 550 Osborne St., Fort Frances, Ont., formerly of Stratton Ont., passed away peacefully with his family at his side at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances on Tuesday, May 9, 2006.
William was born May 14, 1919 in Morley Township (Stratton) to the late William Archibald and Grace Eva (Ethel) Brown. During World War II, he served in the Canadian Army for four years in Canada until his discharge.
That same year, on Dec. 19, he married his Ukrainian sweetheart, Lena, and spent 50 devoted years at her side. Together with hard work and commitment, they would raise five dearly-loved children and carve out a living on the land.
William was a true farmer in heart and in deed. He was self-taught and independent at handling all the demands of farming, and became very successful in his chosen profession.
In the winter, he cut pulpwood. Often, he was hired by the municipality to oversee road construction, ditching, bridge building, and other related projects. Countless hours were spent at the Stratton stockyards, repairing and roofing neighbourhood barns and homes, and making the threshing rounds at harvest time.
He served willingly on school boards, and was always quick to lend a hand when family, friends, and neighbours were in need.
Resting, playing, and laughing fit easily into the balance of William’s life. Family and social gatherings brought the greatest job to him and those in his midst. He delighted in simple pastimes of fishing and hunting, playing horseshoes and baseball, carving (slingshots, whistles, and ring toss boards), and carpentry, berry picking, and playing cards.
Attending holiday and family activities, local fairs, and celebrations were highlights. The eating of well-prepared food was always a much-anticipated EVENT never to be hurried or lightly undertaken.
He perfected the art of a 20-minute “power nap,” after which he would arise energized for the tasks ahead.
Music meant the world to William, and his violin and accordion got plenty of use. His expertise on the dance floor is legendary (both Lena and Louise shared his enthusiasm for this activity), and even up to two weeks before his passing, he was entertaining staff, residents, and visitors to Rainycrest with his light-footed capers.
When Lena died in January, 1996, William was devastated. Once again, he gained the pleasure of a companion when he married Louise Elstad in November, 1998 and moved to her Pinewood home. Later, they would move to William’s Pattullo farm north of Stratton.
They became members of Our Lady of the Way Roman Catholic Church in Pinewood, enjoyed market gardening, and travelled often to visit Louise’s family in the United States.
William will be deeply missed by his wife, Louise, of Clarkesville, Ga.; his children, Larry (Lauren) Brown, Barry (Carolle) Brown, Wayne (Jo-Ann) Brown, and Sandra (Gordon) Martin, all of Atikokan, Ont., and Linda (David) Hammond of Thunder Bay, Ont.; and his much-adored brother, William (Billy) Brown and wife, Bertha, of Barwick, Ont.
He was a devoted Grandpa to Nicholas, Nathan, Andrew, and Tracy, Murray and Cherice, Sherree, Terri, Robert, Christopher, and Jeremy, Krysta and Deborah, and Tyler and Rae-Jeanne. He was proud to become a Great-grandpa to Michelle, Judah, and Levi, Tatum and Atticus, Megan and Jenna, Cadence, and Paige.
Numerous nephews and nieces, and Louise’s children and families in the United States, also will mourn his cheery company.
A much-cherished sister, Noreen Korpi (Howells), predeceased him in 2003.
A memorial service was held Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 11 a.m. at the Millennium Hall in Stratton, with Rev. Barbara Miller officiating.
The honorary pallbearers were all of his family and friends.
Donations in William’s memory may be made to either the Alzheimer’s Society of the Kenora/Rainy River Districts, Box 837, Kenora, Ont., P9N 4B5 or Rainycrest Home for the Aged, 550 Osborne St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8, or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
William’s family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to all who share in their sorrow and who have expressed in so many ways their love and support down through the years of William’s full, rich life.
It is indeed a blessing to belong to such a caring community.