Obituary for
Charles “Chuck” Henry Johnson
Charles Henry Johnson – 93, Truro. With heavy hearts that we regretfully announce the passing of Charles “Chuck” Johnson on December 22, 2018 in his home at Fergus Hall, Parkland Estates, Truro.
Chuck was born at Northview Farm near the community of Melaval, Saskatchewan on July 29, 1925. He was the son of the late Charles William and Lucy May (Gibbs) Johnson who had both immigrated to Canada from England years earlier as pioneer farmers.
Chuck attended local schools all the while helping his parents and siblings with various chores at home. Following high school in 1944, he joined the Regina Rifle Regiment and served overseas in England and Holland until the end of the Second World War. After receiving his discharge from the Army in 1946, Chuck decided he wanted to continue serving his country in uniform, and soon thereafter joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Following the completion of basic training, he was posted to various communities in Nova Scotia including the New Glasgow Detachment where in 1951 he met and fell in love with a young nursing student, Irene Lavenia MacQuarrie. Chuck and Irene spent the next 59 years together, raising a family of seven children, and living the bulk of those years in Truro where Chuck took his retirement from the RCMP in 1971. He began a second career as the Office Manager of the Patterson, Smith, Matthews, and Grant law firm (today known as Patterson Law), working there until taking his full retirement in 1989. Given his farming background, he continued to work part-time at Truro Raceway for many more years in the horse drug testing program.
Chuck was a devoted husband and father but gave much to his community as well. As a young man, he joined the Masonic Lodge and Kinsmen Club (later K-40) and for many years was actively involved with both organizations. He loved music and played clarinet and bass drum with the Truro Concert Band, performing and marching throughout the Province. He also played piano and loved to play for family and friends right up to his final days. He attended First United Church and strongly supported the Boy Scouts as a leader and Group Committee Chair. He had a gift for public speaking and was often times called upon to give speeches at weddings, dinners, and other public events.
Chuck’s children gratefully remember the two vacation trips he made to Saskatchewan with his large family in tow to meet and connect with his western relatives, first in 1964 by car and trailer, and a few years later by train. What patience he had with all those kids! He was fiercely proud of his Saskatchewan heritage and early in his RCMP career, requested a transfer back west, but was turned down. However, once he met Irene, he was content to remain and make Nova Scotia his home for the remainder of his life.
As Chuck’s working career wound down, he and Irene had more time to travel and travel they did, taking in numerous trips to the southern USA, across the British Isles and Europe and throughout Canada to visit their children and other relatives. His last trip away from home was back to Saskatchewan in 2015 where he reunited with his brothers Herb and Les for a final visit to the farm country where he grew up so many years ago.
In 2009, Chuck made the difficult decision to move himself and Irene to Parkland Estates and sell the family home on Queen Street. Unfortunately, on April 1, 2011, a tragic motor vehicle accident claimed the lives of Irene and daughter Susan, which also left him a broken man, physically and mentally. But after several months in hospital he recovered sufficiently enough to return to Parkland where he lived in a comfortable apartment in Fergus Hall for the past 7 years. He received the best of care and attention from his medical team led by Dr. Stephen Ellis, the staff at Fergus, his dear friend and neighbour, George Robinson, and all of his children.
Chuck is survived by his children, David, Halifax, Philip (Chris Lavers), Tatamagouche, Leslie (Robert) Thomas, Caribou River, Mark (Brenda), Regina, SK., Michael (Heather), Brantford, ON, and Andrew (Patricia Budicky), Antigonish; 13 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; his brothers, Herbert and Leslie (Helen) Johnson, Moose Jaw; sister Joyce Amos, Ottawa; son-in-law Ernie Glinz, Forest Glen; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Irene and daughter, Susan Glinz; sisters, Ethyl, Marjorie, Kathleen Seebach; brothers-in-law, Harold Seebach, Keith Amos, William Hicks, William MacQuarrie; sisters-in-law, Lorraine (Patterson) Johnson, Agnes (MacQuarrie) Hicks, Lorrayne (McKay) MacQuarrie.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow Street, Truro.
To honour Chuck’s amazing life, a memorial service will be held in First United Church, 711 Prince St, Truro on Friday, December 28 at 11a.m., Rev. Valerie Kingsbury officiating. A reception will follow in the Church Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan Glinz & Irene Johnson Endowment Fund, c/o Colchester East Hants Health Centre, or First United Church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ColchesterCommunity.com
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Charles Chuck Henry
Johnson 1925 2018..
colchester community funeral home
Décès pour la Ville: Truro, Province: Nova Scotia