John Kenneth Ball

      If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be John Kenneth Ball. He was a warm hearted and well liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to him because he was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around him had whatever they needed. John was a talkative person who was tactful at all times but typically said what he meant.

       John was born in Weston, Ontario and was the son of Ernest and Margaret Ball. John was raised in Toronto, Ontario. During his childhood he learned to be reliable and respectful. John was an obedient child who wanted to win the favor of others. He found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of John's personality throughout his life.

      Though John was frequently the one to initiate games and activities with his family, he was also quite often the family member who took the role of referee. John was a peace-maker with an ability to resolve all sorts of family conflicts. In fact, John worked conscientiously to keep those typical family spats at bay. John was raised with 2 siblings. He had an older brother Bill an a younger brother Bern. John and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they cared deeply for one another.

      As someone who reveled in the sheer joy of his experiences, John was always enthusiastic about new adventures. Although he had an exacting nature, John was always tactful. One thing John will certainly be remembered for is that, when he got up in the mornings, he was ready and raring to go. As a young boy, John had a number of interests and was an active child. He enjoyed being around animals and was especially fond of horses, dogs and cats.

      John was a faithful and loving person. Some would even call his sentimental and a romantic at heart. His kindness and consideration radiated an aura of warmth to those around his. John cared for what others thought and carried that into his marriage. On May 17, 1952 John married Shirley Gerrie at Riverdale Presbyterian Church of Toronto, Ontario. Compassionate and devoted, John worked hard to make his new life partner happy.

      Harmony was important to John and he made every effort to maintain it with his family. John was blessed with two children, a son Alan and a daughter Judy. They were also blessed with six granddaughters Laura, Erin, Samantha, Hailey, Tayler and Lauren. John was always conscious of the feelings others had. He was reasonable and understanding. As a result, John was quick to solve disputes and did so without much fuss. His secret of success in this area was simple: John would listen before he would act.

      Taking his work seriously came naturally to John, and he expected the same from those around him. John was a good team player, someone who was born to cooperate with others. He was what some would call a “people person” and it was demonstrated in his good communication skills. John was a steady worker, one who was realistic about schedules. The kind of details that would give family members and work colleagues fits were situations that John handled well. He could understand the details without getting lost in the broad “big picture.” His primary occupation was as a Salesman for Industrial Safety Products. He was employed with Ball & Son Hardware, Owl Lite, Safety House, Canadian Maintence & Safety Supply before he retired. He brought harmony to his work environment, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done, while always maintaining respect for his colleagues.

      Blessed with a practical nature, John was a person who appreciated the routine of the military. He was a man who took his obligations seriously, working well with the others in his unit. John was in the Navy. He was in the HMCS Alqonquin - North Atlantic. John saw action for WW II. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

      A methodical man, John enjoyed spending time working on his various hobbies. He had no problem following all of the steps and instructions on a given project and was proud of the fact that he could have something to show for his efforts. His favorite pursuits were working in a hardware store (his first love).

      John was one of those people who took pride in constantly putting forth his best effort. Nowhere was that more visible than in sports. John was always enthusiastic and a great team player. John also liked being a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were hockey - he was a Leaf lover.

     His keen interest in things that affected the lives of other people led John to become actively involved in professional and community organizations. Because he was outgoing and worked well with others, John did his fair share of volunteer work. And he wouldn’t shy away from taking the lead on committees or events, either. He was a born list maker and was great at creating and sticking to schedules. Throughout his later years, John was an active member of the Legion and a Cub Leader.

      Not only did John enjoy traveling, but he also seemed to enjoy planning all of those trips and vacations. He was a facilitator who could easily make up a near perfect schedule of all of the things to do and see. He rarely tired of going back and revisiting his favorite places. Favorite vacations included going to the family cottage.

      John was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Some of his favorites were his dogs - Peppy, Pixie, Toby and Buddy, they were best friends for many years.

      Since it was easy for John to meet and get to know new people, he quickly made friends, even in retirement. Once he met those new friends, he loved sharing stories and talking about the good old days. In retirement, he found new pleasure in working at Walmart as a Greeter. Even in retirement, John stayed in touch with his old friends and made plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities that retirement offered him.

      John passed away on January 30, 2009 at Bowmanville Hospital of kidney failure. He is survived by wife Shirley, son Alan and family and Judy and family. Services were held at Oshawa Funeral Home. John was laid to rest in Judys bedroom closet.

      John was a fantastic conversationalist who could engage just about anyone in a discussion. And whenever he said something, he meant it. John was a down to earth person, outgoing and gregarious. He was without question the type of person who enjoyed experiencing things first hand. He was practical and sensible, but what friends and family will remember him for most is the fact that he was so understanding and kind. Everyone whose life he touched will miss John Kenneth Ball.