Obituary of John Hamilton Steele

John Hamilton Steele passed away on Saturday July 13, 2019, at Ridgewood Veterans Wing.

John was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great- grandfather.

He was born in Moncton, April 23, 1920, the fourth child of Ralph and Ethel (Kennedy) Steele. John grew up in Rothesay and spent summers on the family homestead on the Kingston Peninsula.

John is survived by his wife of 72 years, Peggy (Porter) Steele and children: sons Jack and Peter (Trudy); daughters Gillian ( John) Wallace; Patricia and Louise. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Jack’s sons, Bradley and Tim; Peter’s daughters, Rebecca and Jessica; Gillian’s children Kate, Jackie and Peter; Patricia’s children, BJ and Maggie; as well as ten great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and two sisters-in-law, Nora and Shirley Steele.

As the last surviving sibling, he was predeceased by his brothers and sisters-in-law Dick and Nancy; Bill; Joe and Edith; George; Tom and Helen; and Donny; and sister Betty and her husband Malcolm Mackay.

John was a great athlete and competed at championship levels in hockey, speed skating, curling, and golf. In 1938 he won the NB-PEI Junior Golf Championship and represented New Brunswick at the first Canadian Junior Championship in London, Ontario. He represented New Brunswick in interprovincial play as a Junior, an Amateur and a Senior. In recognition of these achievements he was inducted into the NB Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. As a long time member of The Riverside Country Club, the Senior Men’s Championship Trophy is named in his honour.

During WWII he joined the RCAF and served overseas with Bomber Command and completed thirty two missions.

Following the war, John joined the Income Tax Department where he worked until his retirement in 1977. Following his retirement, John and Peggy enjoyed winters at Daytona Beach Shores, Florida and summers in Rothesay, gardening, golfing and fun times with family and friends.

In August 2004 John and Peggy donated twenty–two acres, in central Rothesay, to the Town with the purpose of preserving some of the natural forest land for the enjoyment of all the citizens of the town he loved. Steele-Kennedy Park was dedicated in memory of his mother Ethel (Kennedy) Steele and his uncle Arthur Kennedy because he said they made Rothesay a wonderful place to live and raise our families.

Arrangements  are under the direction of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (634-7424).  A funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 2pm from Trinity Anglican Church, Kingston, NB.

For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Salvation Army or charity of the donor’s choice. Please place online condolences and remembrances at www.BrenansFH.com.