John Thomlinson

John (Jock) E. Thomlinson, Regina, Sask. and formerly of Grenfell, Sask. died on Friday, June 16, 2006 at the age of 88 years. The funeral service was held in the Grenfell United Church, Grenfell, Sask., on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Janice Van Aertselaer officiating. A private interment of cremated remains took place in the Grenfell Cemetery.

The following is the eulogy as given by Rev. Janice Van Aertselaer:

John Edmunds Thomlinson, known to us as Jock, was born on January 21, 1918 to Eugene and Kate Thomlinson (nee Hubbard). He was born at the Canema Farm (Canema means hospitality). He was the youngest in the family and had two brothers Bob and Gib and three sisters May, Kit and Emily. Sadly, they lost Emily to a drowning accident at the age of two years.

Jock attended McPherson School and after his schooling he stayed on the farm. He wrote this in the Thomlinson family history:

-Years spent on the farm with mom and dad were busy.

- The long evenings in winter were spent listening to the radio and playing the piano, the trumpet and the saxophone.

He married Ivy Jones on July 5, 1947 after waiting for her to finish her nurse’s training at Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg. They had four children: Terry, Brian, Lynn and Murray. Sadly, history repeated itself when they lost Brian to a drowning accident at the age of two years.

In 1946 Jock left the farm and worked for Fitzgerald motors. In 1947 he worked for Powell Smibert until he bought Bennet’s garage in 1948. In 1960 he went back to farming until he retired from that in 1978. He then worked as a custodian at the Grenfell Elementary School until 1983.

Jock’s grandchildren fondly remember Jock and Ivy’s home as a place to go after school or for those out of province, a place to go for a little holiday away from home. His grandson Brent remembers that when his grandpa was the custodian at the school he always had peppermints and certs in his jean pockets which he offered to students in exchange for helping him with a few chores. Brent also remembers him being an avid sports fan, especially when it came to watching curling and baseball on t.v. He spent many evenings with him watching, talking and doing arm-chair umping.

Jock liked to tinker and fix things, including his short-wave radio, electrical gadgets and cameras. He enjoyed curling and played with the dance orchestra for many years as well as other local bands and choirs. He sang with the Grenfell United Church choir for many years and was an active member of the Legion and worked on planning the Carol Festival for many years.

Some words from Terry:

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY DAD

I would like our younger family members to know about the dad I knew – much younger, full of life and love, strong and wise.

I remember spending countless hours on the farm. When I was too young to drive the machinery I would ride along with him. I would watch every move he made, shifting to a lower gear when the tractor laboured or making the perfect turn at a headland. Sometimes we would go for an hour and not say a word – I was just being with my dad.

Maybe we would walk through a field of grain and discuss what should be done next. Occasionally we would lie back after lunch and just soak in the surroundings. A flock of geese overhead, the cattle grazing a few years away – I was just being with my dad.

And sometimes after lunch the horns would come out and we would practice for a while. Then we would go back to work. Work for him, maybe. For me it was just being with my dad.

Thanks for your unconditional love, grace and patience dad.

Your son, Terry

Today we each take this time to cherish Jock’s quiet manner, his patience, his dependability, his love and the music that always sang in his heart.

Jock was predeceased by an infant son Brian in 1953; brothers Bob and Gib Thomlinson and sisters Emily Thomlinson and Kit Burreson. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Ivy; children: Terry (Sherry), Vernon, B.C.; Lynn (Brian) Urschel, Grenfell and Murray (Margo), Grenfell; grandchildren: Rene (John) Oreskovic, Langley, B.C.; Chad (Lori) Thomlinson, Invermere, B.C.; Amanda (Jason) Zaremba, Balgonie, SK.; Brent (Chylisse) Urschel, Carlyle, SK.; Trevor Thomlinson, Shaunavon, SK.; Tyler Thomlinson, Grenfell and Jenine Thomlinson, Grenfell; great grandchildren: Danika Oreskovic, Haley and Ryan Zaremba, and Shalyn Urschel; sister May Ellis of Almonte, Ont. as well as his nieces and nephews and brother-in-law Gordon Jones, Grenfell.

Say not in grief He is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.

The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Laurie Rey of Tubman Cremation and Funeral Services, Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-800-667-8962.