George Frederick Wilgress
b. March 16, 1937 ~ d. September 5, 2024
We’re deeply saddened to announce that George handed away peacefully at Rogers Cove Retirement Residence on Sept. 5, 2024.
George grew up within the small, rural city of Ayr, Ontario along with his dad and mom Edward and Millicent, and his youthful brother David (predeceased George in 2017).
One in all his nice joys was the Wilgress Household Christmas get collectively along with his brother David’s household the place he would reminisce with tales of the previous.
He attended Grades 1 by way of 6 within the one room faculty home to which his mom was the one and solely trainer for all six Grades … “Couldn’t get in trouble at school without mom knowing it.”
He was an lively member of the Scouts.
At a younger age, he all the time stored busy working odd jobs with the anticipation of shopping for his first automobile.
He left highschool to work for the Canadian Financial institution of Commerce (1 1/2 years in Kitchener and 1 1/2 years in Listowel). He was shortly promoted to Head teller. Deciding that a lifetime of banking was not his factor, his focus shifted to the Navy.
He enlisted and graduated first in his class from Cornwallis Primary Coaching, which supplied him with selections. He accomplished the Air Fitter Commerce Group One on the Naval Plane Upkeep Faculty with high scholastic Honours. Being first in his class, he selected the VF870 NORAD Jet Fighter Squadron, his dwelling base being Shearwater N.S.. He served aboard the HCMS Bonaventure Plane Provider. Throughout one LEAVE dwelling from Shearwater, all his buddies had been busy working. He was bored so he confirmed up on the Waterloo / Wellington Airport and did a self-imposed two (2) week crash course to acquire his non-public pilot license.
He instructed tales of being deployed at sea, particularly the main points of the “Fall Cruise of 59” ~ The Nice Storm, having many footage to again up his claims in regards to the severity of the storm.
Throughout one LEAVE dwelling, he met Jennie Dedman from Wrigley Corners, simply down the street from Ayr. They married July 4th, 1959.
Their starting of married life consisted of George at sea, and spouse Jennie in Shearwater with child Sue.
As soon as discharged from the Navy, he labored at Fleet Plane in Fort Erie. Fleet Plane closed not lengthy after, so he discovered work at Dehavilland, in Toronto. Albeit he was engaged on plane, it was extra meeting line kind work … not his factor.
He heard of a gap at Trans Canada Airways in Malton (Air Canada in the present day) and was fortunate sufficient to get employed on as a mechanic on the midnight shifts.
On his personal time, he discovered the required studying supplies to review for and write his Federal endorsement to turn into a Licensed Plane Upkeep Engineer, which was the start of his 27 12 months profession with Air Canada, retiring October, 1992.
Along with his sturdy scholastic aptitude, he regularly sought to improve his endorsements with every new plane kind bought by Air Canada. Working at Air Canada supplied his household with many journey alternatives.
Throughout their early years, George and Jennie lived in a small home in Malton backing onto acres of adjoining farmland. Though it was a 3 (3) bed room home, it was very small. With a rising household of now six younger youngsters, he constructed an addition onto the home and added a storage the place he might work on his many tasks: Constructing and repairing tractors and automobiles, and dealing on something mechanical.
He was an avid boater and swimmer and was in his factor anyplace on or within the water.
With Malton increasing round them, George and Jennie sought some extra rural experiences for the household in order that they purchased a farm up Dundalk method with a little bit, previous, run down home and barn.
On his days off from his job at Air Canada, he labored the fields planting crops of grain, taking off hay, and sustaining a good sized vegetable backyard. He as soon as stated … “If not for the alternatives introduced to him within the plane trade, he thought he would have favored to turn into a farmer.
Just a few years later, George and Jennie bought a rural lot simply outdoors the little hamlet of Caledon East with plans to construct the long run household dwelling there.
They moved the household from Malton to the Dundalk farm. This turned the residing transition whereas the household dwelling was constructed on the Caledon East lot. Throughout this time, George travelled forwards and backwards, a big distance, between the Dundalk farm and his Air Canada job in Malton.
He would keep over many nights in a little bit camper on the Caledon East lot, engaged on constructing the household dwelling on his days off work. This was his routine for 1 1/2 years till the household dwelling was constructed to the purpose of transferring in.
Right here George and Jennie raised their six youngsters by way of their teenage and early grownup years.
Any time away from work was all the time centred across the household dwelling and some shut buddies from his Navy years. Throughout his retirement years, he loved serving to his youngsters construct their very own properties, journeys north to assist with household strikes, and dealing on small tasks within the storage. (Boats, go-carts, bikes, tractors.)
George is survived by his beloved spouse Jennie, youngsters Susan (Norm), Tim, Paul, Peter (Serena), Andrew (Lisa) and Ruth (Chris). Proud grandfather of Sam, Jennie, Bryn, Kylie, Jessica, Neal, Eric and Sheldon. Nice-grandchildren Harper, twins Georgia and Zoey, and Jackson. Predeceased by his dad and mom Edward and Millicent Wilgress and brother David.
At George’s request, there will likely be no Visitation or Service. A celebration of life will likely be deliberate for a later date. As an expression of sympathy, if desired, donations could be made to Hospice Huntsville at www.hospicehuntsville.com
The household wish to lengthen our heartfelt because of the Workers at Rogers Cove Retirement Residence for his or her loving care throughout his last days.
George has gone earlier than us, however he won’t ever be forgotten.
