JOHN RICHMOND

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JOHN RICHMOND

July 4, 1949 - October 12, 2024

With great sadness, we announce that John Richmond’s battery ran out on October 12, 2024 at Riverview Health Centre. John bravely lived with Parkinson’s Disease for 28 years, never showing a complaint or frustration. He continued to approach life on his own terms until the very end, often saying, "I can still do stuff; it just takes me longer!"

John leaves behind his wife, Alanna; daughters, Meika and Aidan; son-in-law Kevin; and adored grandchildren, Hawksley, Winston, and Maisie. He is also survived by his big brother, Barry, and sister-in-law, Mavis, in England; as well as his extended families: the Richmonds; McMurrays; McConnells; and Lamberts. He was predeceased by his sister Valerie; and his parents. John faced profound loss early in life, losing his father as a teenager, his sister as a newlywed, and his mother as a new father. These experiences left scars but he kept his emotions close to his heart, never allowing them to slow him down.

Born in 1949 to William and Ivy (Proffitt) Richmond in Ormskirk (near Liverpool, UK), John took pride in his British upbringing. Being raised in a busy post-war world and a decade younger than his siblings, he was often left to his own devices and learned to navigate life on his own, developing a self-sufficiency that defined him. A self-taught handyman, John preferred to repair rather than replace, always believing in making the most of what he had.

After the death of his father, John, his mother, sister and her family moved to Winnipeg in 1967 to start anew. One fateful evening in a folk music coffee house John took a fancy to a young lady making the popcorn. Alanna and John were married in 1973. He was fortunate to find a career with CBC, where he proudly edited film for over 30 years. He cherished the friendships and memories created while working on iconic shows like Sesame Street and Country Canada, as well as countless local productions, newscasts, and sporting events. After taking early retirement, he found joy in a second career at Canadian Tire, where he worked in the garden centre each spring. He would have continued there if not for the toll Parkinson’s took on his mobility.

John's passion for staying active was boundless. He proudly volunteered with the Folk Festival transportation crew for 25 years and was a dedicated blood donor for over 30 years. As a devoted father and family man, he loved dad jokes and epic puns (some so obscure they needed an explanation!), camping, road trips, sailing, canoeing, and building everything from sandboxes and playhouses to skating rinks and slides for his children and grandchildren. John was happiest in his comfortable home and yard, usually with a beer in hand, building bonfires, mowing grass, shovelling snow, feeding the birds (while devising ways to outsmart the squirrels), maintaining the pool and fish pond, chain sawing, tinkering in his shed and engaging in endless projects. Oh, and he was often found under the hood of his beloved Volvos, eager to repair or improve, indulging his passion for cars that began on the mean streets of Ormskirk! John’s idea of relaxing was to be able to fix stuff, build stuff and help friends and family! The kind, generous and hardworking man and the many projects he modestly crafted will be cherished by all who knew and loved him.

Sincere thanks for the excellent care John received at the Victoria Hospital and Riverview Health Centre.

The family expresses gratitude to Ethical Death Care for their photo biography video honouring John, accessible through the "tributes" link at the bottom of this obituary.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on November 10, 2024 at Windsor Community Centre (St. Vital), 99 Springside Drive.

John was a good guy. Try to rest now Dad.



Ta Ta for now!

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Simple Cremation & Life Celebrations

204-421-5501

Tributes: EthicalDeathCare.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 19, 2024, Oct 19, 2024