Peacefully, after a determined battle with cancer, John Bell passed away on May 3, 2021 in his 91st year.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary (nee Daly) in 2011 and leaves behind his daughter Gayleen and sons John (Tim), Paul (Sylvia) and Russell (Chantal) and loving grandchildren Avery, Lily, Devon and Airianna. He also leaves behind his brother Peter and is predeceased by his sister Con. He will be lovingly remembered by his many nieces and nephews in the Bell and Daly clans, as well as by a great many friends and neighbours in Winnipeg, West Hawk Lake, Kenora and Mesa AZ.
John was born on April 24, 1930 in Winnipeg, attended Kelvin High School and graduated as an electrical engineer from the University of Manitoba in 1955. That same year he married the love of his life, Mary, and they began their amazing life adventure together. Shortly after being married they headed off to northern BC for a few years where he worked for CAE Industries setting up radar stations for the Department of National Defence. The young couple returned to Winnipeg where he began a long and successful career with Red River College, starting out as an instructor in electrical technology and retiring as department head in 1991. During that time he also established a company called Bison Electronics, a busy repair shop for electrical equipment, in partnership with his good friends Jim and Beulah Bake.
Amateur radio was a constant companion throughout his life, and with the call letters VE4OL he participated in the local net whenever and wherever he could, sometimes twice a day. You could always see one or more ham radio antennas high above every home and on his cars.
An accomplished competitive swimmer, in his youth John won many races at provincial championships while swimming with the Y Tankers in Winnipeg, and attended the olympic trials in Victoria BC in 1948. He also set many provincial and national records later in life as an avid masters swimmer. As recently as four years ago he won gold at the Arizona senior olympics.
Probably John’s greatest passion and accomplishment is the family cottage at West Hawk Lake. He and Mary obtained the lot in 1955 and started building from scratch. Together they created a beautiful cottage and place of enjoyment and love for the family. What started out as boat access only, cottagers in the bay now enjoy access via “Bell Road” initiated by John in the early 1980s. Indeed he was recognized as the honorary Mayor of Indian Bay by the neighbourhood in 1993. In 2011 he moved from Winnipeg to Kenora to be closer to what he loved - his kids and grandchildren, the cottage and his friends and neighbours at the lake.
The family would like to extend thanks and appreciation to the staff at Pinecrest Home in Kenora for their compassion, expertise and attention to service that made John’s stay very comfortable. Sincere thanks also to everyone at the Lake of the Woods Hospital and his home care team.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Canadian Cancer Society or Shiloam Mission for the homeless in Winnipeg.
Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com