MEMORIES & CELEBRATIONS: 

OBITUARY

John Daniel Cole

April 28, 1923 -  September 28, 2021

Our Dad, John Cole was born in Sioux Lookout and never left except to serve his country as a navigator in a Lancaster bomber in World War 2.  His parents, Ed and Ida Cole, were early Sioux Lookout pioneers and had one daughter; Gertie and 4 boys; Jim, Ed, Fred and John.  The four boys all served in the Air Force in WW2, two did not return.  109 King Street was the family home from the time Dad was a toddler.  Dad spent his summers as a youngster with his siblings running the beaches and bush of Moosehorn Bay at a time they were the only ones out there.  His dad, Ed, would go to town by boat in the morning for work and the children would wait on the beach for him to return at supper time.  

Dad met his forever partner in elementary school, Mary Brunkl.  They were to remain together until Mom died in 2015 after 69 years of a marriage to be envied.  They did everything together, raising their kids, camping, fishing, hunting and building their log home.

Dad had various jobs; extra gang on the railway, the liquor store, forestry chief ranger clerk, shipping clerk at the CNR express office and freight office, Dingwall Motors, then worked with his father at Cole Insurance, taking over after his fathers’ retirement.  He was a notary and also sold real estate.  Later he partnered with Terry Jewell and enjoyed a good business relationship with him until retirement.

Mom and Dad loved their trips to Amik and had a wonderful time on the houseboat, HOBO, on which they spent many a happy time on the lake with their family and friends.

John and Sandy, Marian, Granddaughters, Christy (Kerry) and Colleen celebrate the life well lived of a man we loved and admired.  Cremation has taken place.  Due to Covid restrictions, interment and celebration of life will be held at a later date.