John Anderson

John Douglas Anderson

Service Date May 4, 2019

January 30, 1956 – April 22, 2019

Peacefully, at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre, with his loving wife Roxane at his bedside, John passed away. He will be profoundly missed by his sisters, Margaret Ann Anderson and Sandra Joy Anderson, nephews Matthew, Stephen and Taylor, niece Michelle and great-nephew Dante. Also mourning his loss are his sisters-in-law Wannetta Wilkins and Kathy Kalushka (Tim) niece Melanie, and nephew and godson, Justin. John will be deeply missed by his father-in-law, Fred Wilkins, and mother-in-law, Rita Wilkins. Also mourning his passing are his friends, many neighbours from both sides of the Red River, and friends in the classic car community. Missing John as well are his four-legged companions, ‘The Girls’, Ragna and Saga.

John graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology. He volunteered for Klinic Community Health where he specialized in suicide prevention and addictions. He began his counselling career working for the Children’s Aid Society in Kenora, Ontario. He then worked as a juvenile counsellor for the Manitoba Youth Centre for 24 years before retiring due to ill health in 2007. When John’s health permitted, he became involved in local flood issues. He also had a keen interest in politics.

Despite being a born counsellor, he often referred to himself as a ‘gearhead’ given his interest in rebuilding Chryslers (Mopars) from the ground up. He generously gifted car parts to others with the understanding that a classic car was undergoing restoration. He kept in touch with friends from former days of pumping gas, changing tires, operating tow trucks, and driving for Veterans- Nash Taxi Company.

John had an extraordinary memory and could complete mathematical computations in his head without pencil and paper. During his last months when he could no longer get into his shop, he described in great detail where to find tools and car parts. Later in hospital, when the pain became too great, John escaped to his memory bank: “Back to cars.” Right up to his last days, his sense of humour brought chuckles from his visitors.

He was proud of his Icelandic heritage and enjoyed family dinners in the Anderson (Nordal-Christianson) home in Selkirk, which he later acquired. During his early years, he spent idyllic summers at the Anderson family cottage in Ponemah on Lake Winnipeg, with his Aunt Peg Anderson on Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota and with his grandparents, Harold and Helen Anderson on Golden Lake in Ontario.

John courted Roxane during University of Winnipeg classes and often said, ‘I chased her until she caught me’. They enjoyed 32 years together filled with adventures including boat camping up the west channel through Netley Marsh and driving classic cars during Cruise Nights. They also shared an interest in the local history of the Red River, and a love of Lake Winnipeg where they took annual pilgrimages to the rock at Willow Island. In 1989 they found an acreage on the Red River north of town, where John later designed and built their home and workshop.

In 1999 they acquired a cottage at Chalet Beach and enjoyed driving a 4x4 truck through a winding two-mile trail or accessing the property by boat from their Red River home in summer and by ski-doo in winter. He enjoyed bonfires at the river shore and admired the eagles and deer. He also enjoyed the fresh produce from his father-in-law’s river garden. But when John’s health took a new turn in December 2018, life changed for both of them.

John lived with pain from Mitochondrial Myopathy, a rare metabolic condition and degenerative muscle disease, further complicated by insulin resistant diabetes. When health issues challenged his dream of running a hobby business out of his shop restoring Mopars, and with maintaining the acreage, John decided to recruit a teenager. In April 2009, Des arrived. When jobs surpassed the efforts of Des and Roxane, another pair of hands were needed and Shaun was recruited in April 2011. John and Des and Shaun enjoyed ‘guy talk’ in the shop and many tasks were accomplished. Also missing John is Jim, a Chrysler mechanic who came regularly throughout the years to share his knowledge and expertise in classic car restoration. John further enjoyed many visitors in the shop. But when his health took a drastic turn, work on cars slowed and regrettably, as John stated, “Engines done.”

When the explanation for John’s mobility loss and unbearable new pain came about in late February 2019, he was told he had weeks to months to live due to an aggressive and rare incurable cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumours. He accepted the knowledge with dignity and courageously spoke directly to his family and friends to say, “Goodbye”.

John will be keenly remembered for his sense of humour and love for life and forever remembered for his integrity.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday May 4, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Gilbart’s Funeral Chapel with Rev. Anthon Bouw, Knox Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Special thanks to John’s family, and loyal friends and neighbours for assisting Roxane in reaching their goal for home palliative care. John did return home for a glorious and treasured month. When John was readmitted to hospital to spend his final days, he enjoyed visits from family and many friends. Special thanks to the health care aides, nurses, and doctors at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Also, thank you to the Selkirk Home Care, CancerCare, Palliative Care, Occupational Therapy, and especially to Emergency Measures Services. John received exceptional care and compassion from these services. A particular thank you to John’s physician with Stonewall Medical Group.

Cremation has taken place. Private interment in the Wilkins’ Family Plot in Manson, Manitoba.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Gimli Humane Society in John’s memory is encouraged.

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