JOHN BORNN

Condolences & Memories (3 entries)

• I miss you, Dad…everyday… - Posted by: Debby (Daughtwr) on: Apr 28, 2022

• Dave, Ricky, Debbie, I was back in Winnipeg recently - even walked around the old neighborhood and got updates from my Mom about the various St. James-Assiniboia families. We all spent a lot of time in each other's houses as kids as well as out camping, hiking, etc. and I have to say, I remember your parents as extraordinarily kind, happy and generous people. It was a great neighborhood and your folks were part of making it that way. - Posted by: Todds (Neighbor) on: Sep 06, 2018

• All kids (the lucky ones anyways) think that they have the greatest dad in the world. I’m no exception. As long as I can remember I’ve always been proud that you were my father and I’ve always looked up to you. I can remember getting into arguments with some of my friends and school buddies about who had the best father – saying things like “oh yeah, well my dad could beat your dad at bowling, etc.” When I think back to my childhood I can’t seem to remember much more than little snapshots of the earliest years in Winnipeg. I certainly don’t remember anything of most first three years in Ontario, other than what I see in old pictures. I imagine it’s the same for most people that they lose those first years of memories. But I can see from old pictures of how you were involved with the family and were always there for us. I can vaguely remember some more things from about the time I began school. Things like going out to Winkler and out to Beausejour on family outings. At the time I probably didn’t think anything special of the things our family did, I just took them for granted. Until I got to know more people as I got older and saw how their parents were nearly as involved with them as you were with your family. I think of all the different activities you and mom let me participate in over the years – hockey, baseball, cubs, scouts, navy league cadets, piano lessons, guitar lessons, swimming lessons and many others – and think now of the time it takes to keep Robert involved in these things – and we only have one child – it must have kept you very busy with three – and yet you always found the time. I know now how hard it can be at the end of a busy working day to have almost no time for yourself and giving everything to your family. You did this for all your children and I’m sure you have no regrets, and I have none either. There’s really nothing else that compares to having those special times with your wife and kid(s). I just hope I never made things too hard on you. I’m always proud of you as I think back now about where you started out, coming out of the depression years without a lot of education and just how far you were able to come and all the good things you were able to give to your family. We always had a good home to live in, a new car and were able to take many trips together as a family. You set an example for all of us how hard work can pay off. I always enjoyed the times that you took me along to work with you. I found the tour of the dairy fascinating and was impressed that you were your own boss. I remember being most impressed seeing you pick up four crates of milk at one time (I’m not sure I could even do that now). I remember thinking that I knew you were strong, but had no idea that you were that strong. Some of my favourite memories are of our family camping trips. I’m sure you can tell that you instilled a love of the outdoors and camping in me. I’m glad that I found a wife that has the same interest. I can still remember our trips to Blue Lake, Banff, the Black Hills, and many others including local trips to Birds Hill and other campgrounds around Manitoba. In one of our pictures of our family in the mountains I’m showing off a little knife that you bought for me. It had a native totem pole picture laminated in the handle and a little plastic sheath. I’m able to remember because I still have it. I remember asking for the knife in a roadside gift shop and you telling mom not to waste the money because I’d probably lose it before we got home. But you gave in and bought it for me (I know now how hard it can be to not buy things like that for your son – even though you know it’s probably going to be a waste). I kept it all these years because I wanted to prove that I could take care of it, and that I didn’t waste your money. It’s a lesson to me as a father because it shows how some things said by fathers are never forgotten by their sons. Another souvenir you bought for me that I really appreciated (I don’t still have this one though) was the flintlock rifle that I got in Disneyworld. I was really happy that you bought it for me. My friends were very impressed. I’m very thankful that you were able to provide a solid home and family life for me all the years I was growing up under your roof. I never had to put up with hardships you did growing up and you gave me all the opportunities to succeed in life, which I think I have. I’ll never be rich and famous, but that’s not something that I ever wanted, and I don’t think it’s anything you ever wanted for yourself either. Simply being comfortable and having a good family are the greatest rewards, things that I learned from you. You never complained (at least not out loud) about the long hair during our teen years. You gave me the opportunity to go to Red River College, which eventually led to my job at Winpak which has worked out very well for me. I love my job and the company has always been generous to me and in turn I can provide the same kinds of security to my family that you did for ours all those years. Your work ethic example was not lost on me. I never phone in sick to work and take my job seriously, so a lot of my success at Winpak is because of the example you set for me all those years I saw you working. It was great working with you on my first house, which of course I was able to buy because of the fact you and mom let me stay at home and save the money, not to mention the money you gave to me to help me get started. So many people don’t get the same opportunity and it can take years for people to be able to get their first property. Because of you I have learned how to save money and have always ensured that we have the money to buy something before we do. While we worked scraping the paint off the house on Greenwood Place I got a chance to hear so many of the stories of your earlier years that I had never heard before. I felt like we got to know each other really well for the first time. While I’ll never have your talent for carpentry and other building skills, I have learned to do a lot of things for myself and have been proud of some of things I have accomplished, especially the rec room in our current house. Any skill that I have at home repair and renovation is all directly because of you. I learned to love playing games through you and mom. I have fond memories of our games nights at home growing up and I remember watching you and Erwin and Dean and others playing crib and wishing I knew how. It was years later when I first learned to play with you. I’ve enjoyed our many games we’ve played over the years. Especially on my first plane trip, which I won to Toronto, and you and I went to visit Betty in Niagara on the Lake. Who else would I have wanted on my first plane trip but my Dad? I was happy to see you so proud of me when Sandra and I got married. It was through your example that I learned what marriage was all about, through good times and bad times you were always a solid family man, an example that I want to live up to. There is no one I have ever met that is a better role model to live by than you. Your strength, patience and love have always been obvious as is the strength of your character. Watching your involvement with your grandkids showed once again how much family means to you, which is another lesson I’ve learned from you that I will never forget. Your pride in your family and grandkids is well deserved. I’m thankful for all the time you were able to spend with Robert since he was born. Robert was always talking about his Grandpa John and obviously loved you very much. Your love of me and the entire family will live on in us forever. I’m so glad that you’ve been such a great Dad and Grandfather all these years. I love you very much. Love David - Posted by: David Bornn (Son) on: Dec 05, 2014