John Henry Kerr

He is survived by Elaine, his devoted wife of 66 years; his sons John (Janet) and Jim (Karen); his daughter Susan (Mike); his grandchildren Steven (Veronique), Melanie (Ryan), Ross (June), Jeremy (Emily), Camryn, and Hayly; and his great-granddaughter, Millie.

He was predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth and Samuel; his beloved brother, Sam; and his grandson, Tyler.

John began his long and distinguished career as a civil servant with the Ontario Provincial Government, serving as an Ontario Land Surveyor. Over the years, with the Ministry of Natural Resources, he held various management positions that were instrumental in establishing Ontario’s leadership in developing Geographical Information Systems and related technology. John and his team were pioneers in this work and were often called upon by other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world to share their expertise.

John was also a devoted family man who cherished time spent with his loved ones at the cottage he and Elaine built on Moon River in Bala.

Throughout his 93 years, John experienced many moments of pride: he was a lover of music and dance, a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, and a man known for his generosity. But his greatest achievement was his marriage to the love of his life, Elaine—a love like no other, the kind you only see in the movies.

A man of deep faith, John was a devoted member of the Thornhill Presbyterian Church for over 66 years, serving as an Elder for 57 of them. His church, his faith, and his church family were central to his life and remained so until the very end.

A visitation for John will be held at the very church he dedicated his life to—Thornhill Presbyterian Church—on Monday, November 3rd, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Address: 271 Centre St, Thornhill, ON L4J 1G5

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 4th, at 11:00 a.m. at Thornhill Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception in the church’s Fellowship Hall. After the reception, family and friends are welcome to join for the interment at York Cemetery and Funeral Centre (160 Beecroft Rd, North York, ON M2N 1W7).

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or the charity of your choice.