Obituary

Was born April 17, 1927 in Empress, Alberta and died February 05, 2025 in Guelph, Ontario. He was predeceased by his wife Violet (nee Reitenbach) and grandson Jef Cameron Thomas. He is survived by his son Ricky Ian Cameron (Barbara) and daughters Lynn Susanna Cameron and Lucinda Marie Heming (Thomas), as well as grandchildren Robson Ian Cameron (Samantha), Jill Alyce Moore (nee Cameron, Jeremy), Susanna Violet Dancer, Kirsten Anna Heming and Derek Cameron Heming, and greatgrandchildren Ian James Tjepkema, Cameron Glenn Tjepkema, Jorja Jean Tjepkema and Mason Curtis Cameron. John had an exceptionally rich life. Born on the Alberta prairies, he spent much of his youth on horseback, herding cattle and wild horses. As a teenager, he rode bulls and bucking horses in local rodeos. Growing up in the Great Depression, John knew true privation and developed a strong sense of self-sufficiency. He pieced together his first car from scrapped wrecks and, during his lifetime, single-handedly built two houses for his family. His self-sufficiency spilled over into creative endeavours and, in his adult years, he became a renowned artist focusing on the wild subjects of his Alberta ranch upbringing. John left high school in grade 11 to serve Canada during World War II and, although underage, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. He served in the North Atlantic fleet. Following his discharge at the end of the war, he returned to western Canada where he worked first as a roughneck in the Alberta Oil Patch and later as a lumberjack in the forests of Alberta and British Columbia. After marrying Violet Reitenbach (Hubbard Saskatchewan) in 1951, John re-enlisted in the Canadian armed forces, this time in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His service included four years with 2nd Fighter Wing in France, together with his family. Following discharge from the air force, John and his family moved to the Maritimes while he pursued a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Mount Allison University. Eventually, John arrived in Guelph where he became a Correctional Officer at the Ontario Reformatory. His corrections work included setting up the first arts and crafts workshop in an Ontario provincial corrections facility. There, he encouraged inmates to think creatively about their art and their future. Several inmates went on to university because of John’s influence. In the early 1970’s, John and Violet returned to Alberta where he worked as a Correctional Officer in the Alberta provincial corrections system until his retirement. John then embarked on yet another career and started an arts and crafts business (Camreit Artistry) in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He eventually sold his business and moved to Saskatchewan where he built a house for Violet and himself. Following a severe automobile accident in 2010, John and Violet moved back to Guelph to live with their youngest daughter, Lucinda. Violet passed in 2012. John continued living with his daughter’s family until a major stroke required a shift to the long term care facility at Riverside Glen. There, he was known for his avid participation in arts and crafts, and for his generous and friendly nature. John passed peacefully at Riverside Glen after a series of acute illnesses. John’s often stated goal in his later years was to live to be 100. At 97 years and 10 months, he almost made it. Arrangements entrusted to the Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com. A tree will be planted in memory of John M. Cameron in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.