Obituary Notice for Old Comrade George Douglas Pye 1944-2021

 

The family of George Douglas Pye wish to announce his passing on Febuary 6, 2021. George was born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He was 77 years old. He was the son of Pearl Foote and Lewis Pye. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his sister Carol.  George attended Sydney Academy and joined the RCAF at the age of 18. He began his military career in the  Military Police. He served as an airman at RCAF Stations LaMacaza, Sydney and Barrington. In 1970 he was posted to Lahr, Germany.   While in Lahr he re-mustered to the Signal Corps as a RadOp. He was posted to Kingston for training, while there he did a six month stint in the Middle East as a Peacekeeper.  After Kingston he was posted to CFB Gagetown NB, CFB Debert NS and finished his military career at CFB Mill Cove NS. Following his military service he worked as a Commissionaire until age 71. He loved to fish and tied his own flies. He always had a garden and shared the harvest with family and friends. He was an avid reader. He passed away at home surrounded by the love of his family both present in the house or in contact by phone with those outside of the province. They include Jennifer Pye of Murray Siding, and her sons, Jacob and Sean; Joann Marks, Campbelleville, Ont and her children, Peter and Rachel; Geln Pye Charlottetown PEI and his children, Jessica and Jonathan and Kevin Pye, British Columbia, George is also survived by a sister and brother, Jean Slate of Enfield, and Earl Pye of Alberta. There will be no visitations and a Graveside Service is planned for the spring. Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, Truro NS. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting:  www.ColchesteCommunity.com

Obituary notice for Club Member Joseph Kenneth Bellefontaine LM 199

Joseph Kenneth "Ken" Bellefontaine

March 11, 1936- February 4, 2021

 Joseph Kenneth “Ken” Bellefontaine passed away at the age of 84 on February 4, 2021, in the Comox Valley Hospital. 

Ken was born in Halifax, N.S. March 11, 1936.  He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1953 and continued until his retirement 38 years later.  Ken was a dedicated soldier, travelling to many places around the world during his career.  He loved nothing more then to gather with friends and family and would always talk about his adventures.  Ken enjoyed going to the legion to spend time with friends and play a game of Keno.  He was larger than life, had a huge heart and will be missed by many people near and far.

Ken is predeceased by his mother Theresa Cotie and father Joseph V. Bellefontaine.  He is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Debra and son Ken; all from Comox, B.C.

We wish to thank all the caregivers and doctors who have taken care of Ken these past few years and the staff at the Comox Hospital.  A special thank you to our close friends here in Comox for all your support the last six years.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Society or charity of choice.

Obituary Notice for Old Comrade Minor (Jack) Tennant 1923-2021

Minor (Jack) Tennant   1923-2021 (World War II Veteran)

 Minor (Jack) Tennant, aged 97: husband, father, grandfather, war hero and gentleman passed away in Deer Lodge Winnipeg, 19 January 2021.

Minor Tennant was born into difficult circumstances in rural Saskatchewan back in 1923. Placed in the Moose Jaw Orphanage as an infant, he was adopted and raised on a farm near Chaplin. He rode to school bareback. The Dakota still lived on the land. There were hard days on the farm and lots of them.

The platform where, as a young man, he stepped on the train and headed off to war is just a mound of grass now. The town that he called home has long since been reclaimed by the prairie. Overseas, he lost good friends
D-Day morning when they landed on Juno beach. He was wounded himself but stayed on duty for hours relaying messages. After months recovering in Britain he went back into action, contributing to the liberation of France and the rest of Europe. He went through the entire war always on the radio and never fired a shot.
Jack, as his friends liked to call him, came back home with shrapnel in his back and a beautiful young British woman on his arm. After the war he and Phyllis were stationed in Paris where he was assigned to NATO. Over the 67 years they spent together, Jack served many assignments overseas in far off places like Egypt and Vietnam. Military duty also saw them living all over Canada. Together they raised David and Pamela. Another son, Jeffrey, was lost shortly after his birth.
After his career Jack stayed on the air as a ham radio enthusiast, speaking "over the airwaves" to folks literally around the globe and far above it. His hundreds of contact cards include those from space shuttles and the MIR space station. In his later years Jack and Phyllis moved from the Ottawa area to Winnipeg to be closer to their daughter Pamela Tennant and her husband Reg Sherren. Of course, the fact that they also adored their grandchildren Mitchell and Emma may have played more than a small roll in that decision.
He lost Phyllis in 2014. Things were never really the same after that. There were trips with son-in-law Reg back home to visit his good friend Delores Lansdall and family in Saskatchewan, and a return overseas with grandson Mitchell to honour his fallen comrades. In recent years he was awarded the Legion of Honour medal by the Government of France for "Extraordinary Military Bravery and Service in Times of War." It is France's highest military award.
In his final years, living at Deer Lodge, he always enjoyed going to the pub for a pint while Reg played a few songs on the guitar (old westerns were his favourite) and short outings to Assiniboine Park with Pam who took such loving care of him every day. Another of the greatest generation is lost to us. We all loved him so very much. Happy trails Jack. We will never forget you.