Obituary for John Elvin Lind
LIND, JOHN ELVIN passed away peacefully at Markham-Stouffville Hospital on December 31, 2019 at the age of eighty-seven. Son of the late John and Esther Lind (née Malmberg). Loving husband of Gwen Lind (née Leeder). Beloved father of John (Barbara Alyn Woods) and Laura (Bill Reynolds). Proud grandfather of Justine, Natalie, Emily and Aly. Predeceased by brother Norman Johnson.
Born in Vauxhall, Alberta on April 1st, 1932, John enlisted in the RCAF at age eighteen. He trained as a CF-100 Canuck and CF-101 Voodoo fighter jet navigator. He flew in airshows, and early in his career was stationed in Germany and France as an intelligence officer at the height of the Cold War. His squadron was on call during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As a sideline, he competed in European Skeet Shooting Championships, and placed at the Tira A Volo Italy in 1959 and in the Oslo, Norway competition in 1961.
John met his wife Gwen, a CFAB elementary school teacher, while stationed in Metz, France. They dated for three months and were married in a civil ceremony on December 31, 1959. They were together for sixty years to the day.
John’s later postings to NORAD facilities in Colorado and Montana were luckily close to some of the best ski regions in North America. After thirty-four years in the Air Force he retired to Calgary as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was volunteer chair of the Speed Skating and Curling venue at the 1988 Winter Olympics. He worked as a ski instructor and enjoyed his weekends at Lake Louise. An adrenaline junkie but also a patient, applied and dedicated husband and father, John and Gwen moved to Ontario in 2002 to be closer to their granddaughter. They also enjoyed seeing their three actress granddaughters on television and in movies.
John was an active golfer, tennis and pool player at Ballantrae Golf Lifestyle Community and the news that his heart was as fragile as it was shocked the entire neighbourhood. We too are heartbroken. The family would like to thank the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Markham-Stouffville Hospital. A service will be held at Roadhouse and Rose Funeral home, 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, on Sunday, January 12, 2020 11 a.m.
Born in Vauxhall, Alberta on April 1st, 1932, John enlisted in the RCAF at age eighteen. He trained as a CF-100 Canuck and CF-101 Voodoo fighter jet navigator. He flew in airshows, and early in his career was stationed in Germany and France as an intelligence officer at the height of the Cold War. His squadron was on call during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As a sideline, he competed in European Skeet Shooting Championships, and placed at the Tira A Volo Italy in 1959 and in the Oslo, Norway competition in 1961.
John met his wife Gwen, a CFAB elementary school teacher, while stationed in Metz, France. They dated for three months and were married in a civil ceremony on December 31, 1959. They were together for sixty years to the day.
John’s later postings to NORAD facilities in Colorado and Montana were luckily close to some of the best ski regions in North America. After thirty-four years in the Air Force he retired to Calgary as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was volunteer chair of the Speed Skating and Curling venue at the 1988 Winter Olympics. He worked as a ski instructor and enjoyed his weekends at Lake Louise. An adrenaline junkie but also a patient, applied and dedicated husband and father, John and Gwen moved to Ontario in 2002 to be closer to their granddaughter. They also enjoyed seeing their three actress granddaughters on television and in movies.
John was an active golfer, tennis and pool player at Ballantrae Golf Lifestyle Community and the news that his heart was as fragile as it was shocked the entire neighbourhood. We too are heartbroken. The family would like to thank the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Markham-Stouffville Hospital. A service will be held at Roadhouse and Rose Funeral home, 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, on Sunday, January 12, 2020 11 a.m.