Obituary of William Harold Fennell
Bill was born September 6, 1930 and raised in Newbury, Ontario. He was active and excelled at sports;
including horsemanship, gymnastics, swimming, hockey, hunting, water skiing and baseball but, all
sports seem to come easily to him except for golf (which was quickly abandoned). He loved to dance and
listen to the old country and western artists. His dancing skills were legendary, as far away as Wyoming,
in United States. His ability to connect and communicate with children and animals was uncanny. The
love of his first horse Queenie was the source of many beautiful Queenie Stories which were told to all
and sundry.
Unfortunately, Bill’s father passed away at a young age and Bill never had a chance to know him. His
schooling was started in Newbury until age 12 after which he went off to Ridley College, a boys’ school
in St Catharines, Ontario. While at Ridley he won the distinguished Cap’s Cup for gymnastics and was
given the respected position of prefect in his final year at Ridley. He received his colours in football and
gymnastics, which were his two favourites but, coloured in nearly every sport he partook. He is a Ridley
Old Boy of ’49. After Ridley he continued with many athletic endeavours including, his ability to walk
down stairs on his hands when he was well into his 50’s.
After Ridley he and his brother, Bob, came home to work at A. Fennell & Son, the family lumberyard. He
married the love of his life, Anne Marie McCallum (predeceased). They had four children; Dick, Becky,
Jim (predeceased) and Amos. In his spare-time he managed to build two boats and travelled extensively
with his family through the great lakes and the canal systems of Ontario. Unfortunately, his wife Anne,
was prone to seasickness and therefore his hobby did not receive unanimous support on the home
front. When “one door closes” as they say, he found his true passion, which was agriculture. He had
integrity, but was a contrary and resourceful man. When the doctors temporarily suspended his driver’s
license, he continued to do the daily chores by riding his bicycle two miles to and from the barn with his
broken neck and secured in a brace. Later in life he met the lovely and charming, Marg Patterson of St.
Thomas, Ontario and they spent many happy times together up until the sudden end of his life. He
passed away on the afternoon of May 29th by a sudden and massive heart attack, while fuelling his car in
Glencoe.
He was passionate about all things agricultural, whether it was animal husbandry or the crops in the
field. He has passed this passion/gift onto his son Amos and his grandson Chad. He never retired from
agriculture and spent the most of his life, including the later years, by taking courses at the local
agricultural college. His wit, funny stories and the twinkle in his eye will be missed by everyone at family
gatherings. Predeceased by his wife Anne and son Jim, sister Marge Davis and Beth White. Survived by
son Dick, his children Chad and Garrett, daughter Becky Elder and her children William, Kristi and
Thomas, Amos and his daughter Savannah, his brother Bob and Eunice Fennell., He was the proud great
grandfather to Grant Fennell, son of his grandson, Chad and Amy Fennell and will be missed by all.
A private family service will be held at the Badder & Robinson Funeral Home, Bothwell.
Interment to follow at Oakland Cemetery, Glencoe. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the local hospital,
FCHS Foundation or plant a tree at the tribute store www.treecan.tributestore.com.
Private Family Service
Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Glencoe
1930 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de William
Harold
Fennell 1930 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Bothwell, Province: Ontario