Obituary of John Charles Lee
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Lee
John Charles
Corner Brook, NL
1934 - 2020
It is with sadness that the family of John Charles Lee announce his death on March 30th 2020 at the Corner Brook Long Term Care Home. He leaves to mourn his wife, Genevieve (O’Hanley), his children Greg (Lori), Scott (Eva), Mark (Amir), Moya (Keith) MacKinnon, Aaron (Katie), as well as his sisters Eva-Joan, Patricia Dillon, and brother Duncan. He was the proud and beloved grandfather of 8 grandchildren.
Born in Howley, Newfoundland in October 1934 to Stella Beatrice Nichols, formerly of Nicholsville, and John J. (Jack) Lee, formerly of St. John’s, John Charles was this couple’s second child. His older sister Georgina predeceased John a few years ago. Jack and Stella raised their family of five children first in Curling and then in Corner Brook. After High School John worked as a millwright to earn money to study at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish and subsequently at the Technical University of Nova Scotia in Halifax where he took his degree in Mechanical Engineering. During this time he met and then married Genny, the love of his life, originally from Charlottetown PEI. The couple started married life in Labrador City and next moved to Corner Brook where they raised five children. Like his father, Jack, John would work for the rest of his professional life for Bowater, later Kruger, first as an Engineer and later in senior management. Alongside his gift for science and his faith, John was a thoughtful man, a great reader like both his parents. He had a quick, often dry wit and could tell a story while quietly commanding an audience. Soft-spoken, generous, his words carried weight. He sent his children out into the world with confidence and the strength born of love. They returned it to him in equal measure and are forever grateful.
When John developed a passion for something, he was all in. Cross-country skiing took him, his buddies and his sometimes reluctant children out into the wilderness for many years over many wintery kilometers. Likewise, his enthusiasm for golf knew no bounds, playing at sunrise, at sunset and always believing he could improve his game with a better club, tips from a golf video, or just one more round.
In his retirement years, John endured the hardship of illness and relied not only on the common purpose of others but especially on his devoted wife Genny who defended his needs and cared for him with ardour and tenderness. His family grieves him with the knowledge of a life well lived and the gratitude of an eternal peace well earned.
A very special thank you to a long time Dr. and family friend Dr. Coleman, and the staff at Long Term Care for your care and kindness to John during his stay there, to the Nurses that were so kind and tender during his final hours, we will be forever grateful.
Cremation has taken place. Funeral Services will take place at a later date. As expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Mental Heath Association NL 70 the Boulevard, 1st Floor St. John’s, NL A1A 1K2