Brockville native Ross Alexander Nadon, 50, of Pembroke, died of cancer May 5, 2004 at Pembroke General Hospital.
He was born April 25, 1954, in Brockville to Alexander Nadon and the former Ruby Matthews. He grew up in Brockville and attended Prince of Wales School and Thousand Islands Secondary School.
He was a member of the Brockville Rifles militia from 1969 to 1973 and joined the Canadian Forces in 1973.
He served in London, Petawawa, Ottawa and Pembroke. In 1994 he retired, having earned the rank of captain. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 72 in Pembroke.
Mr. Nadon enjoyed fishing, drafting, biking and trumpet playing.
He is survived by his daughters Heather and Lynn, both of Brockville; sisters Orma McDougall and husband Robert and Melanie Herbison and husband Byron, of RR 4, Mallorytown; and several nieces/nephews. Also surviving is her former wife, Mary Lee Nadon of Brockville.
He was predeceased by his parents.
A legion memorial service was held May 15 at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, before the funeral there at 2 p.m., with Rev. Ron Hörst, of Trinity Anglican Church, officiating. Cremation was arranged.
Memorial donations were directed to Legion Branch 72, Brockville Rifles and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Les Bilmer, 65
MORRISBURG -- On May 7, 2004, after a courageous battle following a serious injury three years ago, Leslie David "Les" Bilmer, 65, for many years Morrisburg's fire chief, died at home with his family by his side.
He was born in Cornwall on May 18, 1938 to John Duncan Bilmer and the former Kathleen Harris. He grew up in Avonmore where he attended public and high schools.
Starting as a labourer at the Caldwell Linen Mill in Iroquois, he worked his way up to foreman. Later he worked at Bruce Casselman's Supertest.
He married Inez Casselman, his boss's daughter, on September 7, 1957, in the Lutheran parsonage in Morrisburg and moved to Morrisburg in 1958. Eventually he bought his father-in-law's garage, which became known as Bilmer's Garage, and operated it for 36 years. He also operated a tow truck service.
In 1958 he became a volunteer fire fighter with the Morrisburg Volunteer Fire Department. Ten years later he was appointed fire chief by the town council and held that post until his retirement in 1992.
As fire chief, he earned the respect and trust of his men. He was affiliated with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs and was a member of the Ontario Association of Retired Chiefs.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends. When he was 62 and about six weeks from retiring, he suffered a serious fall at the hunting camp in Stonecliff, Ont., west of Deep River. Rushed to the local hospital, he was airlifted to Ottawa where he remained in intensive care for three weeks.
He slowly recovered and returned home, where the community rallied around to help him and his wife.
Mr. Bilmer was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Morrisburg, and belonged to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 48 in Morrisburg for 26 years.
He is survived by his wife Inez Casselman and five children, Debbi Black and husband Gord of North Augusta, Nancy Chamberlain and husband John of Waddington, N.Y., and David Casselman, Michael Casselman and wife Cheryl, and Laury Pilon, all of Morrisburg, as well as nine grandchildren, Lezley, John, Jamie, Mike, Lyndsey, Amber, Les, Charles and Tayler.
Also surviving are seven sisters and four brothers: Iris Richman and husband Jim of London, Larry Bilmer and wife Rosemary of Lunenburg, Betty Northey and husband David of Stratford, Danny Bilmer and wife Nancy of Morrisburg, Hans Kingma and wife Tillie of Roosendaal, Netherlands, Barbara Cooper and husband Len of Mount Brydges, Judy Mason and husband Morgan of Ingleside, Joyce Alguire and husband Reg of Ingleside, Charley Bilmer and wife Elaine of Westneath, Diana Bilmer of Perth and Darlene Kinnear of Ingleside. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, infant brothers Brian and Robert and infant sister Jacqueline, as well as family members Bruce and Ethel Casselman.
Friends called at the Royal Canadian Legion hall in Morrisburg where on May 9 a Legion memorial service was held. On May 10, more than 200 local and community firefighters paid their respects at the legion.
On May 11 the funeral was held in the James Fraser Hall, Royal Canadian Legion, Morrisburg, with Pastor Joachim Barkley-Probst, of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Morrisburg, officiating. The former chief's final trip in the fire truck ended in burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Morrisburg.
The pallbearers were grandsons Jamie and Michael Black, John McIntosh, Sean McCann and Les and Charles Bilmer and Mr. Casselman's friend Tim Carkner. Honorary bearers were friends Bill Jarvis, Dick Testerink, Art Carkner, Reg Alguire, Allan Casselman, Ben Chudy, Stan Mabo, Vic Brooks, Ted Jarvis, Kevin Pilon, Lance Valcour and Don Stinson.
Memorial donations to the Morrisburg Fire Department were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Parker Funeral Home, Morrisburg.
Peter Nicol
KEMPTVILLE -- A North Grenville councillor and former journalist died yesterday.
Peter Nicol died in the morning at the Kemptville District Hospital as a result of diabetes-related complications.
Deputy Mayor Ken Finnerty said Nicol had been sick for about a month and in hospital for about 10 days.
"The last month, he hasn't been very well, but we weren't expecting him to pass away," Finnerty said.
Nicol was elected to council for the first time last November. Previously, he had been news editor for the Advance, a North Grenville community newspaper.
He held that job for 12 years before retiring in 2001.
Nicol was born and raised in Ottawa and spent much of his adult life there. Occupations he held in Ottawa include being a school teacher, managing a chain of music stores, and doing freelance journalism for the Ottawa Journal and CBC Radio and Television.
Nicol moved to the Kemptville area in the late 1970s. He joined the Advance in 1986, starting out in the paper's advertising department.
The councillor has been an active community member in North Grenville in more ways than just being a politician and journalist. He was a longtime player of old-timers hockey. As well, he frequently entertained at local venues and events as a folk-music guitarist and singer.
Finnerty said after knowing Nicol for many years as a politician or a journalist, he was impressed how he kept an easy-going demeanour all the time with such high-pressure jobs.
"I can't say I ever heard him raise his voice," Finnerty said. "He was calm, cool and collected at meetings ... He wasn't one to get upset, fly off the handle. He was a real gentleman."
Joe Morin, managing editor of the Advance, worked with Nicol for about half a decade and said it was a positive experience.
"He was very quiet, very experienced, very ethical, very gentle," he said.
Finnerty said he expects Mayor Bill Gooch to declare Nicol's seat vacant at the next council session on September 13, 2004 and a byelection to replace him would happen about two months after that.
Nicol's areas of responsibility on council included police services, the library board, emergency services, recreation, culture and youth.
He is survived by his wife Beth, daughter Christy and grandson Liam.
Finnerty said information on funeral arrangements would provided soon.
Ruth Webster, 80
Brockville native and retired registered nurse Ruth Webster, 80, died peacefully at her Brockville residence on August 21, 2004 after a month-long illness with cancer.
Born in Brockville on August 11, 1924, she was the daughter of William Carbery and the former Emily Knox and grew up on Pine Street. She attended Douglas Haig Public School and Brockville Collegiate, then went on to train as a registered nurse and graduated from the Brockville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1945.
On September 18, 1954 she married Herbert Webster in Wall Street United Church. The couple resided on Wright Crescent in their younger years before moving to Crawford Street into what would remain the family home for the duration of their married life and after. Following her marriage, Mrs. Webster left the nursing profession to raise her family.
A lifelong resident of Brockville, she was a dedicated member of Wall Street United Church. She also belonged to the Brockville General Hospital Nurses' Alumnae and to Beta Sigma Phi. She was a volunteer with the Brockville General Hospital Auxiliary and enjoyed knitting, sewing and gardening.
Predeceased by her husband Herbert in 2000, Mrs. Webster is survived by her five children, Nancy Webster of Toronto, Leslie Hutchings and husband Mike of Fenelon Falls, Sue Coleman and husband Dale of Kingston, Alan Webster of Newmarket, and Mary Ann Green and husband Chris of Newmarket, as well as grandchildren Jonathan and Emily Coleman, Megan and Alexander Green and Parker, Logan and Abigayle Hutchings.
Also surviving are her sisters Marguerite "Tootsie" Wylie and Dorothy Thompson and her husband George, and her brother Bill Carbery.
She was predeceased by her grandson Solomon Coleman and her sister Emily Langmuir.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, where a memorial service was conducted by the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority on the evening of August 23. The funeral was held in the Irvine Chapel on August 24, with Rev. Dr. Alan Bennett of Wall Street United Church officiating.
A large representation from the Brockville General Hospital Nurses' Alumnae were present as an honour guard. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
Acting as pallbearers were Alan Webster, Dale Coleman, Jonathan Coleman, Bill Carbery, Chris Greer and Mike Hutchings. Robert Sheridan was an honorary pallbearer.
Lorne MacDonald, 90
Lorne John MacDonald, 90, a former reeve of Front of Yonge Township, died August 3, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital. He had been ill for the past several months.
Born May 4, 1914, at his family homestead, at RR 4, Mallorytown, he was the son of John Anson MacDonald and the former Irene Guild. He was raised and educated at Mallorytown and became a dairy farmer.
On February 23, 1954, he married Beulah Hall in Gananoque and they had two sons.
In addition to a lifetime of farming, Mr. MacDonald was active in his community. He was elected a councillor in Front of Yonge Township and also reeve. He was instrumental in the development of the Mallorytown senior citizen complex and the Lansdowne Medical Centre.
He was also a founding member of the Front of Yonge Fire Department.
He identified with the United Church and belonged to the Macoy 242 Masonic Lodge for 68 years and the Sussex-St. Lawrence 59 Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years.
He enjoyed spending time with friends at the village restaurant and ball park.
Mr. MacDonald is survived by his wife, Beulah MacDonald, of RR 4, Mallorytown, and two sons, Lorne D. MacDonald and wife Janice of RR 4, Brockville, and Neil H. MacDonald and partner Cathy Nevel of Mallorytown.
Also surviving are four grandchildren, Rebecca Mills and husband John of Gananoque, Kristina Doran and husband John of Brockville, John W. MacDonald of Brockville and Robert MacDonald of Mallorytown; two great-grandchildren, Lauren Mills and John Doran; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Three sisters-in-law also survive: Dora Hall, Vada Graham and Bernice Ibelshauser and husband Paul.
Mr. MacDonald was predeceased by his parents, brothers Fred, George and Cliff MacDonald, and sisters Cassie Bauer and Hilda Griffith.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, on August 6 before the funeral in the Barclay Chapel, at which Rev. Allister Rose, Mallorytown/Lansdowne United Church, officiated. Burial followed at Mallorytown Cemetery.
The pallbearers were John MacDonald, Sam Birtch, Howard Graham, Wally Chant, Ron Griggs and Grange Grothier.
Memorial donations were directed to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Burn Unit, Canadian Diabetes Association and Christ United Church in Lyn.
