February 28, 1942 - March 4, 2017
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of John Alexander Milne on morning of March 4, 2017 at age of 75.
Milne was born in Brantford, Ontario, eldest of six children to Alex and Patricia Milne. Milne attended Cathedral High School in Hamilton and graduated from University of Western Ontario in London. John married Mary C. (Beaudoin) in September 1965.
Milne went on to work for the family business at Milne Steel in Hamilton before embarking on a career of public relations and communications in Southern Ontario, including Continental Public Relations and Strategies in Toronto.
Milne moved his young family, including wife Mary and children Tim, Rebecca and Daniel, to North Bay in 1975 and worked at Canadore College as marketing professor. In North Bay, Milne was an avid sailor, fisherman and nordic skier including creation and management of North Bay’s Cross Country Ski Agency. He was also a writer of outdoor books and served as outdoor columnist for North Bay Nugget for many years.
Never one to settle in a job, Milne spent his final working years at MASHA (Mines, Aggregates, Safety and Health Association) in North Bay before retiring to Vernon, B.C. As all the Milne children settled in Okanagan Valley, John and Mary set up shop in Vernon where John pursued his main passion of woodworking and Mary worked part-time in nursing.
Milne passed away quietly on March 4, 2017 at Vernon Jubilee Hospital with family by his side after a lengthy illness. His sense of humour was there till the end!
Milne is survived by wife Mary, wife of 53 years, Tim and Jennifer Milne (Lindsay), Dan and Paula Milne (Gregorash) all of Vernon, BC, and Rebecca Frechette (Milne) and husband Tim Frechette of Lake Country. Milne was a proud grandparent to Brandon and Jessica Frechette, Zachary, Johnathan and Liam Milne.
Milne was pre-deceased by Shawn Burke and is survived by siblings Paul and Carolyn Milne, Keith and Kevin Milne, sisters Janet and Lynne and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held in March for Milne Family in Vernon.
The Milne Family would like to thank Dr. Gavin Smart, Dr. Mike Humphreys, staff at Level 6 at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Palliative Care and Community Care Nurses.