IROQUOIS -- Blanche Helen Montgomery, 87, died May 4, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital.
She was born November 18, 1915 in Gallingertown, Ont., the daughter of David Countryman and Bertha Hilliard.
On April 25, 1940 she married Lorne Montgomery in Iroquois. She worked with her husband on the family farm at Hulbert for 20 years and as an accounting clerk at Caldwell Linen Mills in Iroquois for 23 years. Following retirement, she lived in Iroquois and Brockville.
She was a member of the United Church at Hulbert, Iroquois and Brockville. She enjoyed baking, playing cards, watching hockey and baseball on television and entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Montgomery is survived by a daughter, Barbara Reid and husband Peter of Brockville, and three sons, Robert of Carp, Douglas of Cobourg and David and wife Carol of South Lancaster, as well as seven grandchildren, Robert Montgomery, Brenda Riling, Paul Reid, Karen Millross, David Reid, Michael Montgomery and Julie Manion, and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Lorne Montgomery, grandson James Reid, brother Irwin Countryman, sister Grace Countryman and Micheline Montgomery, the wife of grandson Robert.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Iroquois on May 5. The funeral was held in Iroquois on May 6 with Rev. Myra Garvin, of St. John's United Church, Brockville, officiating. Burial followed at Spruce Haven Cemetery in Brinston.
The pallbearers were Robert and Michael Montgomery, Paul and David Reid, Larry Berry and Douglas Robillard.
Memorial donations were directed to the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care, St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Arthur Hanna, 81
Arthur Edward Hanna, 81, died January 27, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital of complications following cancer surgery in December.
He was born November 4, 1921 in Lord's Mills to Arnold Hanna and the former Lovernia Tanney. He was educated at the Lord's Mills Public School and then attended the North Augusta High School, a continuation school.
He lived and worked on the family farm until his marriage to Edith White on September 11, 1943. He then worked on dairy farms in the area before going to Phillips Cables in Brockville.
In 1949 he accepted the position as general manager at Frankland's on Highway 2, just east of Brockville. This well-known landmark was a farm devoted to show jumping horses. Over the next 13 years his enthusiasm for this job was apparent, as he became an accomplished horse trainer and rider, competing and winning in many events in northern New York, eastern Ontario and Quebec.
He became a skilled blacksmith, forging and shoeing horses at Frankland's as well as at other stables in the area. While there he also oversaw the maintenance of the extensive property and the field and orchard crops that helped support the operation of the farm.
On a part-time basis, between 1953 and 1975, he also assumed the custodial duties at Riverview Public School on Sharpe's Lane.
In 1963 he moved his family to Brockville, where he started work as the groundskeeper at Automatic Electric. He looked after all aspects of property maintenance and landscaping until his retirement in 1987.
He was a member of Wall Street United Church. For years he and his wife enjoyed dancing with two local square dance clubs. They spent their summers at Glenalee Trailer Park at White Lake, near Ottawa.
His hobbies included playing cards, working crossword puzzles, woodworking and gardening. He and his wife spent many hours walking along Brockville's scenic waterfront. He and his little dog J.J. were a familiar twosome out for their daily walks in their neighbourhood.
He was a quiet man who took pleasure in his home and visiting with his family. His illness made it difficult for him to speak but he was able to visit silently with each of his sisters during the week before his death.
Mr. Hanna is survived by Edith, his wife of nearly 60 years; son Garry and wife Margriet of Brockville; daughter Marlene Kaman and husband Jeno of Maitland; three grandchildren, Neil Hanna of Brockville, Kevin Hutt and wife Christina of Brockville and Darren Hutt and wife Michelle of Maitland; and two great-grandchildren, Mason and Holly.
Also surviving are his sisters Iva Capling of Kitchener, Violet White of Brockville and Mae Bancroft and husband John of Brockville, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, an infant sister Irene, granddaughter Kristin Marie Hanna, and brothers-in-law Oscar Capling and Donald White.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, where on January 30 a celebration of his life was held, with Rev. Bruce Ross, from the United Church in Perth, officiating. His son Garry Hanna gave the eulogy. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
The pallbearers were grandsons Neil Hanna and Kevin and Darren Hutt, nephew Marvin White and longtime friends Carman Crowder and Jerry Robertson.
Memorial donations to the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Diabetes Association were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Bill Van Dusen, 88
Bill Van Dusen, 88, died March 8, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital.
He was born Wellington Donald Van Dusen on January 12, 1915, in a little log house on the Lyn Road, the son of William Wellington Van Dusen and the former Mabel McNish. He attended Douglas Haig, Mallorytown and Victoria Public Schools.
In his younger years he had his own trucking business and enjoyed a wrestling career in the area.
On November 5, 1938, he married May Walker of Kitchener. During their 64-year marriage they raised four children.
In 1942, during the Second World War, Mr. Van Dusen joined the army and became a sergeant and instructor with the 1st Canadian Airborne Parachute Corps at Shilo, Manitoba.
At war's end, he and his wife bought their dream farm on the Howard Road, near Lyn, putting in long hours farming and growing asparagus and raspberries.
Mr. Van Dusen also worked off the farm, at Stetson's Hat Works and later the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital. He retired in 1980.
He enjoyed many trips west, including his trip north to the Yukon with son Ron. He also enjoyed moose hunting. His passion for music and dancing gave him many hours of pleasure.
His main interest was his family, particularly babies. He enjoyed his 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
For many years he identified with Wall Street United Church. Later he identified with Centennial Road Standard Church which was built on property he had owned.
Mr. Van Dusen is survived by his wife May, daughter Aveleigh and husband Noble Needham of Maitland, and three sons, Donald and wife Sandra of Maberly, Jack and wife Audrey of Lyn and Ronald and wife Mary Ellen of Sherwood Park, Alberta.
Also surviving are his brother Lloyd Van Dusen and wife Eileen of Mallorytown and sisters Mabel Warren of Calgary and Shirley Hall and husband Kyle of Brockville.
He was predeceased by his brother Ralph overseas in the Second World War, his parents, and brother-in-law Stewart Warren of Calgary.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on March 13 the funeral was held, with Rev. Laurence Croswell officiating. Burial was at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were grandsons John and David Van Dusen, Andrew and Donnie Van Dusen and Stephen Needham, and son-in-law Noble Needham. Honorary pallbearers were brother Lloyd Van Dusen of Mallorytown, Michael Van Dusen of Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Darren Van Dusen of Maberly.
Memorial donations were directed to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Linus Kemp, 77
Linus Harold Joseph Kemp, 77, died suddenly February 21, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital.
He was born April 29, 1924 in Cornwall and was raised and educated in the Cornwall area.
He was married to Vera Rockey in Prescott at St. Mark's Church. She predeceased him.
He worked as a painter at Dunville's store in Maitland before becoming a maintenance worker at DuPont Canada Inc.'s Maitland Site, where he worked until he retired.
He identified with St. Mark's Church in Prescott, moved to Brockville several years ago and was a former member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 96 in Brockville. His hobby was making model cars.
Mr. Kemp is survived by his son Larry of Kemptville and daughters Elaine of Domville and Lisa of northern Ontario, as well as two sisters in Cornwall, Vivian and Una, several grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving is his special friend, Lillian Bradley.
Besides his wife, he was predeceased by his parents and his brother Hubert.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on February 25 the funeral was held, with Father Brian Price of St. Francis Xavier Church officiating. Cremation was arranged.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
