John Anthony Thomas Gowron (Dugald, Manitoba) passed away on Nov.14.20 . two months after being
told that he was cancer free but after a brief illness and one week before his 80 th birthday He leaves
behind his wife of 53 years, Judy (nee Sharhan), his daughter Leah and husband(Mick Vernon) of Pahoa,
Hawaii and his sister Tiana Hrycak of Penticton, BC.
John attended St. John’s Ravenscourt for the majority of his elementary schooling, and then two years at
Gravelbourg School in Saskatchewan as a boarding student, later finishing his education at Tech Voc.
While at Gravelbourg he met fellow student Euclid Herie and enjoyed spending two summers with
Euclid’s family on the Qu-Appelle First Nations Reservation. The friendship they forged lasted many
years.
John met Judy in August of 1966, but in essence they had other connections before this—with some
shared distant relatives, and John’s father (Dr. Tony Gowron) having been Judy’s family physician. It was
a brief courtship—when you know you’ve met the love of your life you can move quickly! Within 3
weeks they were engaged, and later married on March 4, 1967. Their only child, Leah, was born in
January of 1968. In early 1971 John and Judy moved to their first home on Kisil Bay in East Kildonan,
where the demands of parenthood and home ownership took John’s spare time. Most weekends found
them camping in Manitoba or Northern Ontario, instilling a love of canoeing and travel in their young
daughter. Many happy family vacations were taken all over the US and Western Canada, with John at
the wheel of the car and getting their small Boler camper set up each evening at their next destination.
John and Judy later relocated to their dream home in Oakbank in 1988 and remained in the area since.
John started his optical apprenticeship at the main Eaton’s store in Winnipeg and opened his own
business in downtown Winnipeg. The Eye Glass Shop relocated to the Boyd Building in Winnipeg John
had many valued clients, including the opportunity to work with a variety of northern reserves providing
optical services. After closing the shop he remained in the optical industry as an optician, technician and
salesperson for another ten years. In the early 1990s he restrained and turned his then hobby of
computers into a second career, working for a number of community-based nonprofits as a computer
technician, including the John Howard Society and the Salvation Army.
John spent many happy years with his two favourite hobbies—amateur radio (VE4 ADS) at which he
thoroughly enjoyed connecting with other “hams” around the globe and collecting QSL cards, including
Tom Christian, descendant of Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty. He participated in a number
of ham radio jamborees, preparing for potential use of local amateur radio people during emergency
situations, and volunteered for the early years of the Manitoba Marathon as a radio coordinator.
Toastmasters became a hobby later in life and John reached the highest level of Distinguished
Toastmaster. He was a founding member of the Prairie Voices Toastmasters and always enjoyed the
opportunity to coach new members.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers to consider a
donation made in John’s name to the Salvation Army. VE4 ADS is now a silent key.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de John Gowron Saturday November 14th 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Oakbank, Province: Manitoba