Obituary of John Thomas Heard

In his 93rd year. Passed away unexpectedly on April 3, 2015. Married for almost 60 years to his beloved wife, Eunice, who passed away in 2010. Dear brother of Robert “Bob”, predeceased by his sister Margaret (Germond) and brothers Milford “Bill” and Don. Father of Cathy, son-in-law Paul and Laurie. John will be lovingly remembered by extended family members, nieces, nephews and friends. John was born in Oshawa on June 9, 1922. He was a WWII Veteran, deeply impacted by the horrors witnessed during those years while actively serving throughout Europe and Northern Africa. While John worked at Fittings Limited in Oshawa for over 33 years, his passion was music. During the Depression, he played harmonica on the streets for spare change until someone suggested he enter a contest at the Canadian National Exhibition. At the tender age of 10, he blew everyone out of the water, winning a gold medal (over much older and better known players). John continued to play harmonica until the day he died, developing his own unique embellishments in songs ranging from standards to blues, rock, folk, pop, country and classical. He was an equally talented guitar player and when his brother Bill was alive, they often performed at family gatherings and singalongs, or jammed with friends. John was extremely creative, with the ability to think outside the box and was often sought out for his problem-solving skills. He lovingly built a classic wooden speedboat (with his brother Bill) before designing and building a houseboat on which the family spent many summers exploring the Trent Canal system. After retirement, he and Eunice bought an RV and spent many winters enjoying the warmth of the southern states. For over a decade, John had prostate cancer and, more recently, Parkinson’s disease. Even with health challenges, he loved to make people smile with his charm and wit. He always enjoyed a good pun. Often he could be seen motoring around town on his bright red scooter, greeting those he met along the way with a friendly smile. John's family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for the loving care and attention given to him by Marie Rogers and Karrie Fawcett at Comfortable Alternative For Seniors in Bowmanville. The gratitude we have for your above-and-beyond support and devotion for Dad, and us, cannot be measured in words. To Heather Scott, Donna and others who cared for Dad in the past, our deep appreciation. Thank you, to Georgie for her regular visits over the years, and to Melissa who took over after Georgie retired. A huge thank you to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Bowmanville Hospital Emergency Room who, while calmly and gently administering to Dad on the afternoon he passed away, said ‘we feel it is a privilege to help people’. The many kindnesses you extended in that short span of time were noticed and greatly appreciated. Acknowledgment goes to Drs. Paul, Thow, Gibson, Tahiliani and Montgomery who treated Dad over the years. Sincere appreciation to Dr. Danny Wu for his acupuncture and Chinese medicine which we feel extended his quality of life for decades. Dad lost a significant amount of hearing as a result of WWII; and, Lou, Jim and all the staff at Chatten’s Better Hearing Service cheerfully helped Dad navigate the latest technology for better hearing. To all family members and friends, we extend enormous gratitude for your prayers and support.