John Rosing Carter

1923 – 2015

John Rosing Carter passed away peacefully on May 20, 2015 at the Grace Hospital, Winnipeg. He is survived by Margaret his wife of 68 years, their four children John (Ursula Halsmeier) Vancouver BC - Jason, Michael, Peter (Kim Mann), great-granddaughter Naiya; Greg Vancouver BC - Ryan, Scott (Charla Kinkel), Christie, Curt; Harriet (Charles Schiele) Minnesota/Florida; Hilary (Jussi Alto) Calgary AB - Jaime, Owen (Michelle Simpson), Kevin; his brother Lionel (Monica) and sisters-in-law Marnie in Vancouver BC and Sheran Carter in Pincher Creek AB and many nieces and nephews in Canada, the United States and England. He was predeceased by his parents Charles Gregory Carter and Edith Rosing Carter, brothers Maurice and Howard and sister Shirley Milton.

John was born September 25, 1923 on Sherburn Street, Winnipeg. The family moved to their newly built home on the Red River at 620 South Drive in 1929. He attended General Steel School for four years and then Mulvey School before matriculating from Gordon Bell High School in 1939.

Upon graduation, John joined the family automobile business, Carter Motors that was started by his father in 1926. In 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and spent the next four years as a Flying Instructor with the Commonwealth Flying Plan in various airfields across Canada. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of Flying Officer. After the war, he rejoined the family automobile business, and upon his father’s death in 1968 became the owner of the General Motors dealership, a long-standing and well-known landmark of Winnipeg located at the corner of Portage and Maryland. In the mid-1950s John established Carter Holdings Inc., a commercial real estate business. In 1994, he retired from the automobile business, sold Carter Motors and continued to operate Carter Holdings until his death.

In 1946, he married Margaret Hunt and they settled in Fort Garry the following year. In the 1960s they moved to Tuxedo, where they continued to raise their family. Summers were spent at Star Lake, Manitoba until 1977 when they moved to an old camp on Coney Island in Kenora, Ontario.

John was the president of a number of organizations in Winnipeg including the Manitoba Motor Dealers Association for eight years, the Winnipeg Executives Association, and the Manitoba Badminton Association. He was a member of the General Motors Dealer Council, a life member of the Winnipeg Kiwanis Club, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, and an honorary life member of the Winnipeg Executives Association. He was active in Westminster United Church where he served as Finance Chair and on the board of the Westminster Foundation. He was a supportive member of the Manitoba Branch of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada.

In his early years, John was a member of the Wildwood Club and the old Winnipeg Badminton Club. Later on, he joined the Winnipeg Winter Club and the St. Charles Golf and Country Club. John loved all sports and was active in golf and tennis, but badminton was his passion. He played exhibition matches with World Champions from Malaysia as well as competing in many local, national, and North American championships. Over many years of playing competitive badminton, he captured numerous titles and trophies.

A Funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Friday, June 12, 2015 at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd, Winnipeg, MB.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Salvation Army.