Obituary
Dad passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 20th. His family would like to thank all of his former neighbours on
Mansfield Drive, his AA friends, his INCO friends, and all the friends he made along the way. Thank you to the PSW’s,
care workers, RN’s, RPN’s, Doctors and all the kind human beings that made his life just a little sweeter until the end.
Dad did not wish to have a funeral. He requested a small family event to be held at a later date, with his ashes to be
interred in Dorchester.
For a man who rarely sat still and held on to life tightly despite a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, at the end he
made a quick and graceful exit. Dad grew up in a time that was much different than today’s world. He referred to his
beloved hometown of Dorchester, Ontario as “Dogpatch” where life consisted of swimming at the Mill Pond, sledding on
Tyner’s Hill, and raising hell at the gravel pit. As a young boy, he farmed the local fields with neighbours, and hung over
the shoulders of anyone fixing an old Model T. He lived for 2 years with another family in town while his older brothers,
still young men themselves, built the new family home. Dad loved his music and played it, into all hours of the night. He
loved Gordon Lightfoot, Handel’s Messiah, and the steel drums of a Calypso band equally. His love of raisin pie and fruit
tarts were well known, and it was a fact that he could not be kept away from mincemeat tarts at Christmas. John
coached men’s league fastball and hockey teams in the 1970’s and played Oldtimers Hockey for many years in
Oakville. Of course, he was far from being a perfect man. He had flaws like all of us and struggled at times. But at his
best, he taught us valuable lessons. Never a stranger did Dad meet. He was fascinated with people and often struck up
friendships in the wildest situations. If you needed to talk, he’d pick up the phone at 3am. Truth be told, he was the one
who usually called in the middle of the night, though someone always answered which said something about the man.
He spent many Christmas mornings serving others at the Scott Mission in Toronto. He danced to his own slightly out-of
tune drum, dancing up to a few weeks ago at Allendale Long Term Care in Milton and the Christopher Terrace
Retirement home before that. Dad spoke at numerous events, to the complete embarrassment of his children. So we
were not surprised when we found his handwritten personal obituary the day before he passed. His own words are
below, as well as his favourite poem which he could recite by heart. Dad, the last word is yours.
In Dad’s own words:
Departed this life on April 20, 2022 surrounded by his loving children Sandra Stevens (Paul), Eric Schwab (Julia Fuller),
and Krista MacLaren (Brooke).
Proud grandfather to Noah and Jared Stevens, Jonah and Maya Schwab, Zoe, Ty and Peyton MacLaren. Uncle to the
most wonderful, loving nieces and nephews.
Remembered by Jane Schwab (and Jim Lavery) of Southampton, Ontario.
John was the youngest son of Clarence (Lieutenant in WWI) and Cecilia (Bermuda native) and brother to William and
Phyllis (d.), Maurice and Patricia (d.) and Mary and Roger Walker (d.).
The Schwab family moved from Niagara Falls in the early 40’s to the small community of Dorchester. Following high
school at Sir Adam Beck in London, and a short stint at Canada Trust he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, he
became a ground radar technician on the Pine Tree Line in Mont Apica, Quebec. Departing the Air Force after 5 years
of service, John spent the next 11 years in the Marine Navigation business with Sperry Gyroscope and Decca Radar.
Following a period of investigating other business opportunities he landed a most satisfying and rewarding position with
the International Nickel Company INCO at the Research Laboratory in Mississauga where he worked for over twenty
years until he retired.
John loved sports, especially fastball and hockey and played both in his early years.
He was also passionate about books, airplanes, old cars, and friendships. (All of which he stored away in his home and
heart forever).
He wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the AA Fellowship and Parkinson’s Sufferers. It’s been a grand
journey….what next…?
Grandpa’s favourite poem which he recited by memory often…
High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee*
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
*John Gillespie Magee
An Anglo-American aviator and poet. Magee served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which he joined before the United
States entered the war; he died in a mid-air collision over Lincolnshire in 1941.
John’s Photo Album
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Frith Darch Schwab May 28 1937 April 20 2022..
Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Oakville, Province: Ontario