Kenneth’s Obituary
Master Warrant Officer (retired) Kenneth Arthur Aucoin – Age 79, On 30 May 2020, the world suddenly lost our beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Ken was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and grew up in full house that thrived on love and mutual support. « Kenny » to his eight sisters, Dola, Colleen (Bob Hartlen), Daphne (Brent King), Kathryn (Peter Merlin), Sherrill (Greg Kinsman), Denise, Marilyn (Steven Butler) and Elizabeth, was the only brother among the nine siblings. Ken’s parents Marie Poirier, and Paul-Baptiste Aucoin predeceased him, as did his youngest sister Elizabeth. Ken is also missed by his nieces and nephews Jason Tucker, Katherine King, Nathalie and Angela Kinsman, Colleen and Michael Merlin, Ryan Tucker, Brian and Heather Hartlen, Sandra Koltolo, Cynthia Bihun, Gaylene Newton and Theresa Geisbrecht. Ken’s only grandson Chris misses ‘talking shop’ about cars with his grandad. Ken’s lifelong friend Claude Moreau deeply misses his military friend, and fellow stamp collector. Neighbours Robert and Daphne Albert, and Tom and Gladys Bondy will miss waving across the lawn, to chat with Ken, as will Ken’s former work colleagues that would see him during his daily 3 o’clock coffee break in the Greenwood Mall.
In 1958, 18 year old Ken joined the Canadian Air Force. After growing up in a small home with a large family, barracks life and the discipline of the military was something Ken adjusted to easily. It was while on a 2-week furlough in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Summer 1961, while staying with the family of Ken’s friend from barracks, Robert Jenkinson, that Ken’s life changed forever. By the time his 2-week furlough had ended, Ken knew he was in love with Robert’s sister, Doreen. Doreen felt the same, and 2 years later on 20 April, 1963. Ken and Doreen wed in Winnipeg, MB. The young 23 year old husband had married his soul mate, and would be her partner, best friend and provider for the next 56 years until Doreen died in 2019.
Being a young Air Force serviceman in the 1960’s and 1970’s meant moving, frequently, and to almost anywhere Ken’s trade was needed. Ken did short tour duties for NATO in the Azores, Belgian Congo, and Italy as a single man. After marrying, Ken’s wife Doreen, and their children Denise and Paul, learned to call home: Germany; Montreal, Quebec; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Greenwood, and Shearwater, Nova Scotia. It was while in Germany, that Ken drove and toured the gorgeous countryside of Germany, France and Switzerland. In Montreal, Ken learned stamp collecting from his lifelong friend Claude Moreau, and cheered on the Canadiens hockey team. In Winnipeg, Ken loved to go fishing for trout, pike, and walleye; and started his first small flower garden.
When Ken and his family moved to Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Ken bought his first home. Here, Ken and Doreen’s shared passion for gardening evolved. They turned their backyard into a gorgeous showcase of garden beds, bushes, and trees that brought the property alive with colour, and the perfume of roses and lilies. Ken and his family loved to wander Nova Scotia’s rocky coastlines, in Morden, French Cross and Margaretsville, as Doreen and Denise, the rock hounds of the family, searched for pebbly treasures. Ken loved to just sit and serenely soak in the sunshine as it danced off the ocean waves, and to hear the singing of stones as the surf rolled in. Ken loved nature his entire life, and shepherded his garden, and his children, with the greatest of care. Ken’s biggest priority was always his family, and Ken would provide support anyway he could, every time he could, without any thought of recompense. Ken was a man of honesty, dignity, discipline, deep caring and unshakeable reliability, no matter what the personal cost to him. He died suddenly; but he died knowing he was very deeply loved. He is very deeply missed.
To honour Ken’s spirit, please do a favour for someone without asking for one back. Please give to a charity of your choice; and try to never miss the beauty of the nature all around you and in each other. Because of Covid restrictions, Ken’s funeral, internment and celebration of life will occur at a later date, when possible. Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, (902) 825-3448.
Read More
October 22 1940 May 30 2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Kenneth Arthur Aucoin October 22 1940 May 30 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia