He shall be desperately missed by his companion, Jody Hodgkinson of Collingwood, Ontario, and his daughters, Cecily Heslett (Richard Heslett) of Elora, Ontario, and Rheba Gillespie (Daniel Morgenstern), of Toronto, Ontario. A beloved “Grandpa G” to Emily, Will, Vivien, Eden, Lydia, and Owen.
John was born on June 4, 1948, to Henrietta (nee Gibbons) and Herman Gillespie. He and his siblings have been raised on the household farm in St. Vincent Township, south of Meaford, Ontario. John shall be missed by his brother Ross Gillespie and was predeceased by his brother Don and his sister Anne Scott, and shall be remembered fondly by Anne’s companion Doug MacIntosh.
Admired uncle of Tim Gillespie, Brent Scott, and Dana Scott. Cherished by Sarah and Steve Pyke, and Ryan Warren. Significantly missed by the complete Hodgkinson household, who knew him since childhood, and his cousins, David Gillespie (Karen Gillespie) and Robert Gillespie. Adored by his devoted canine, Lola, who offered him with a lot consolation and companionship.
John was liked by everybody who knew him, from childhood buddies to new neighbours. He had an exquisite manner with individuals and all the time knew the proper story to inform. He had an incredible sense of humour and an enthralling wit. John was a loyal and dependable buddy. He was old-school – a person of his phrase. A verbal deal and a handshake have been as binding as a authorized contract. As a father, he supplied a wealth of knowledge. He gave his kids sufficient room to be themselves however all the time had the proper phrases to information them. As a companion, he was an everlasting romantic: loving, sort, beneficiant, and attentive.
From a younger age, John was by no means removed from his guitar. His most treasured possession was his brother Don’s previous Gibson. Many nights have been spent with family and friends singing and telling tales. He was drawn to songs that advised tales of imperfect characters and the challenges of life.
John was a person of many skills and expertise past measure. He may drill a effectively, construct a ship, function a crane, assemble a cabin out of a humble grain silo, and switch a set of previous, rusty wagon wheels into a shocking coated wagon. Every little thing he constructed had a tiny fire, “’Cause you’d never want to be cold.” His goals and initiatives have been deeply private and infrequently unconventional. A lot time was spent at “Home Base” in Timmy’s store the place creativity flowed and concepts got here to life. At instances, he was in such a rush to get a mission completed that he couldn’t take the time to park straight, flip off the engine, and shut the truck door earlier than getting that final measurement. He valued arduous work and would typically say, “It’s just work. If I keep at it, it’ll get done.” He additionally spent many blissful hours at his island close to Whitefish Falls, Ontario; the main focus for a lot of of those fantastic initiatives.
John lived a lifetime of infinite journey and introduced many buddies alongside for the trip. He was a dreamer proper up till the top. He all the time stated, “It doesn’t matter if the dream ever happens. What matters is that you had a dream.”
To cite the late Jimmy Buffet, from a track Dad liked, by means of 76 years “of perpetual motion… some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”
A heartfelt thanks to the employees at St. Michael’s Hospital, in Toronto, for the love and compassion they confirmed our household throughout this troublesome time.
A Celebration of John’s Life will happen on the Meaford Corridor on Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 1 till 5 p.m., with tributes at 2 o’clock.
As your expression of sympathy, donations to the St. Michael’s Hospital Basis or the Meaford Hospital Basis could be appreciated and could also be made by means of the Ferguson Funeral Dwelling, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON N4L 1B9 to whom preparations have been entrusted. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
Donations: St. Michael’s Hospital Basis or Meaford Hospital Basis
