JOHN ARTHUR COURTNEY

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JOHN ARTHUR COURTNEY John passed peacefully in the company of his son Jack on November 20, 2014. Born in Regina on March 31, 1935 to Arthur John Courtney and Alice Frances Courtney (nee Dunlop), John is survived by his only son Arthur John (Jack) Courtney, daughter-in-law Darlene (nee Mizuno), grandchildren Samantha and Colin, and by close family friends Mary Lipsey and her daughter Phyllis Hall. John was predeceased by his parents, older sister Colleen, and wife Kay Arden Courtney (nee Falloon). John spent his early years with his parents in Winnipeg and Brandon, but in 1947 moved to the farm of Jim and Mary Lipsey near Fairlight, Saskatchewan, where he attended Dayton School. Though only there for two years, John would recall many happy times on the Lipsey farm. John returned to Winnipeg at the age 14 to help support his mother and started work as an electrician's helper. A co-worker, Leonard (Lenny) Falloon, introduced John to his daughter Kay. John obtained his high school diploma at night school and before the age of 20 was a foreman with Otis, supervising the installation of elevators, first in Regina and then during the construction of the main Winnipeg Post Office. John and Kay were married August 10, 1957 and moved to a new house John had constructed on Buckingham Road. A few years later John started his own electrical contracting business. Prior to Jack's birth in 1961, Kay started to develop an eventually crippling form of rheumatoid arthritis. In 1964 John and Kay experimented with a move to California for Kay's health, but decided to stay in Winnipeg based on the care available at the Rehabilitation Hospital. In the mid 1970s John started a new silver recycling business with some friends and business partners from Minneapolis. This new venture allowed John more time to care for Kay, who eventually succumbed to her illness and the side effects from its treatment in October of 1989. Early years of retirement were spent constructing a cottage for Jack and helping with the renovation of Darlene's first home. Much to his own surprise John outlived most of his longtime friends. He was thankful for the company of his grandchildren and Darlene's parents, Jack and Judy Mizuno. He was a resident of Lion's Personal Care Home since 2011, and enjoyed his daily interaction with the very caring staff at Lion's. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service for family will be held in the spring.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 25, 2014