In loving memory of John (Johnny) William Ovenstone, age 101 years, who passed away peacefully with his family at his side on November 25, 2013 in Princess Court Long Term Care.
John is survived by his children Bill (Marlene) of Dinorwic, Barbara (Joe) Nickel of Dryden, Glenn (Kathy) of Dryden, and Jim (Brenda) of Thunder Bay, 8 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, as well as numerous other relatives.
John lived in Dinorwic for the majority of his life. He saw developments thru the horse and buggy to the first automobiles, airplanes and men landing on the moon. He continued to see progress and kept up with world news and developments until the end. He even knew what a mouse was……and not the kind he trapped by the thousands.
Johnny had a wonderful sense of humour and always enjoyed a good joke or prank and even laughed when he was on the receiving end.
We always enjoyed his stories as he was a living history of the Dinorwic area. John has a section of the Dyment Museum dedicated to him for the many antiques he donated to it.
Some of his memories included standing by the railway tracks waving at the men coming home from World War I and native dog teams lined up by the Hudson Bay Store in Dinorwic.
Johnny hunted and trapped with his many friends including the natives he grew up with. His main staple was wild meat. It was common for him to take a beaver sandwich to school. He spent his younger years guiding for fishermen and hunters and helped guide the original surveyors building the Sioux Highway.
John served in the navy during World War II. John spent many of his working years at the Lands and Forests, Dept. of Highways and at the Wabigoon Tree Nursery. He saw the building of the Trans-Canada highway, and lived through the dirty thirties.
He had a passion for travelling. During the depression he “rode the rails” back and forth out west looking for work. His claim to fame was that he once illegally hopped on the heavily guarded famous “Silk Train” riding from Dryden to Ignace. In his later retirement years he continued to bus across Canada, USA and Mexico well into his eighties. He would leave on his trip in January and we never knew where he was until he showed up in the spring.
Dad was an avid reader and enjoyed going to garage sales in his later years. He loved shovelling snow to the benefit of many neighbours. John was the proud owner of a shiny, battery run, red scooter when he moved to Dryden and rode it from morning to dusk at which time he met many new friends. Johnny enjoyed his 100th birthday which he celebrated with his friends and family.
A private family memorial will take place at a later date.
If friends desire donations may be made to Princess Court DECO through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca
