IAN JAMES BARRON

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IAN JAMES BARRON It is with sadness that the family announces the passing of Ian James Barron on June 9, 2013. Ian was born January 27, 1921 on Guay Avenue in St. Vital. Life was not easy. His mother, Georgina (nee Bolton) died in 1934 of complications due to diabetes. His father, James Charles Symes Barron, a First World War veteran, died three years later. At 16, Ian was left to find work and provide for his younger sister, Maureen. His first job was in the C.N.R. Fort Rouge shops. Seeking adventures and an easier time, Ian joined the Naval Reserve in the final months of 1938. In 1939 (much to Ian's surprise) war broke out. Ian spent the next three years at sea, serving aboard the Assiniboine and Prince David, in the Battle of the North Atlantic. In 1943 he qualified as a Physical Training Instructor and finished the war in Greenock, Scotland. Post war, Ian tried farming in Gunton (where one of Manitoba's finest canola crop, and a fortune almost within reach, were lost to an early frost), working as a switchman for the C.N.R. (where he survived being hit by a train), prospecting (apparently there is an emerald as big as his fist lost somewhere in the wilds of northern Ontario), starting a driving school, selling Bibles door to door, working in a bakery and a dairy, and serving as a prison guard at Stoney Mountain. In 1955 to 1958, he went back into the Navy to tour the Pacific. He claimed a highlight of this tour of duty was a huge mid-Pacific water polo game between Canada and the USA, which Canada won. It was also in the Navy that he met his future wife, Lillian. As an officer she outranked him, a fact he would be reminded about for the next 38 years. In the next phase of his life, Ian turned to school. He completed high school at United College Collegiate and earned a BA from the University of Winnipeg. He delighted in theatre at United - especially staging the Cuchulainn myths - and teaching at an elementary school in Selkirk. After graduation, Ian worked with food and drug testing labs at Health Canada until his retirement at 65. On Saturday mornings Ian shone as "Grampa" who took his grandsons to the Paddle Wheel at The Bay or hockey games or swimming in his pool. He fostered imaginative games and mysteries evolved around who belonged in the Pig Fort or the Beaver Lodge. Years later, Ian could remember the exact words of their conversations and laugh at all they did together. Post retirement, Ian and Lil travelled visiting family in Scotland and England or, in the cold of Manitoba winters, his sister Maureen and her family (husband, Ralph; daughters, Gina and Lindsey) in Indianapolis and Florida. In between treks, Ian enjoyed being "Uncle Ian" to the McAuleys and spent many happy times with them in Selkirk. In 1994, when the Macdonalds moved to British Columbia, there were the annual trips west to keep Christmas. However, after Lillian's death in 2004, Ian lost his desire to travel too far afield. His last visits were with old friends over A&W coffee, at the Reh-Fit Centre and with newer friends at The Wellington. Many people assisted Ian as his strength diminished and we are very grateful to all of them. In particular, we thank Alexa Campbell for her relentless dedication to making Ian's last days more comfortable. Ian is survived by stepdaughter Heather Macdonald (Ian), and grandsons, Jamie (Moira), Rory (Summer) and Derek. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 20 at Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway with Rev. Peter Douglas officiating. Interment will be at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. Ian was a most unusual man. He will be missed. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C 0X4 783-7211 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2013