-
8556 MUELLER, Lieutenant Commander Gary Wayne William (Ret)
-
12019 BESSETTE, Raymond – 1956 – 2015
-
RRA 8 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILFRED A. CURTIS II
More
8556 MUELLER, Lieutenant Commander Gary Wayne William (Ret)
Gary passed away at home on January 17, 2015 surrounded by his family. Gary was born on April 26, 1947 in Port Arthur, Ontario. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary of 42 years, his children, Edward (Nicole), Natalie (Matt) and his five grandchildren Tai, Anna, Joshua, Holly, and Emmett. Also survived by his sister Karen (John) Maki and numerous nieces and nephews. Gary was predeceased by his parents Bill and Vera Mueller, as well as his foster parents Ole and Violet Takala.
On behalf of Gary, the family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Robert Eaton for his superb care and commitment. In addition, thanks go out to Gary’s incredible cancer team since 2010, Dr. D. Jonker, Dr. J. Pantarotto, Dr. S. Gilbert, Dr. M. Corsten, and Dr. W. Kendal. Visitation on Friday, January 23 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at McEvoy- Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road.
A celebration of Gary’s life will took place at Our Lady of the Visitation Church, 5338 Bank St. at 2 pm on Saturday, January 24.
Reception followed in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, Gary’s wish was that donations be made to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre for the benefit of others.
***
12019 BESSETTE, Raymond – 1956 – 2015
Passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a short but well fought battle, on Monday, January 19, 2015 at the age of 58. Beloved father of Chantale (Erik Van Dijk) and Jean-Francois (Sophie Besette). Cherished grandfather of Alexie, Sébastien and Amélia. Dear brother of Guy (Johanne Cyr), Suzanne (Pascal Dumas) and Hélène (Marc-André Bourgeois). Raymond will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and colleagues. The family received relatives and friends at Heritage Funeral Home, 2871 St. Joseph Blvd., Orléans, on Friday, January 23, 2015, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. A Memorial Service followed in the Heritage Chapel at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Snow Suit Fund. Condolences may be made at: www.heritagefh.ca
***
RRA 8 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILFRED A. CURTIS II, CD August 30, 1928 – January 19, 2015 Son of Air Marshall Wilfred Austin Curtis and Pearl Burford, concert pianist. Brother of Glenn H. Curtis and the late Rhonna Curtis. Married to the late Manon Fauteux, mother of their six children – Wilfred III, Gerald, Michelle, Charles, Danielle and Patrick. Grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of five. He enjoyed 10 wonderful years with Manon prior to the marriage ending in divorce, after which he raised the family as a single parent.
Educated at Trinity College School and Royal Roads Military College. He was an airman from 1947-1957 and again from 1977-1979. He commanded the 400 City of Toronto Fighter Squadron from 1955-1957 as a Squadron Leader. He had about 250 airmen under his command. He was proud that no one was killed in an air accident while he was Commanding Officer. The Squadron flew Vampire fighters and F-86 Sabre Jet fighter planes during his tour. He loved being a fighter pilot and clocked over 1,100 hours flying his favourite airplane, the Vampire. He believed the 400 Squadron’s 50-member Pipe Band was, and remains, the best in North America.
He was named Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 400 Squadron from 1977-1979. He took great pride in the accomplishments of the Squadron during his term. For 10 years he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Corps of Commissionaires, whose mission was to help ex-service people find employment after they retired from the military.
He operated the family insurance brokerage for 40 years, acquiring 10 additional insurance brokerages during that time. He was well regarded in the industry and known for his honesty and integrity. Retiring at age 60, he moved permanently to his cottage on Kahshe Lake in Muskoka, where he took great pleasure from his flower gardens. From early childhood, the cottage was a place of solace and peace for him.
In his early 60s, he remarried to Gwen Vernon, widow of his best friend Dr. Peter Vernon, who had died many years before. The marriage was not successful, but they remained friends thereafter.
In 1995 he was invited to join the Board of Directors at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge, ON. Elected Chairman of the Board in 2000, he led the construction of a $24 million expansion project, which had been planned for 15 years. It was of great benefit to the Muskoka region and he was grateful to be part of the team that made such a meaningful contribution to the community he called his second home. He also was a life member of the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, where he enjoyed playing bridge regularly in later years. Wilf was larger than life. He was a wonderful father, brother and friend, with a great sense of humour and he will be greatly missed.
Visitation to be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery on January 29th from 6 to 9 p.m. Funeral Services and Reception to be held at St. Clement’s Anglican Church, 70 St. Clement’s Avenue in the City of Toronto, at 11 a.m. on January 30, 2015.