John Duke

John William Henry Duke, born April 30th, 1926 at 70 Pritchard Ave., Toronto, to the late George Edward and Mary Harvey Duke (nee Yelland), passed away on Dec. 24th, 2020 at Southbrook Retirement Home in Brampton, ON at the age of 94. John was predeceased by his wife Reta Irene Duke (nee Howes) of Norwich, Ontario, whom he married on March 27, 1948 at the Howes' family home on Riddell Ave in Woodstock, ON.


John leaves behind his 9 children and their spouses/partners: Sue (Roy) Ott, Michael, Mary (Fred) Clark, Rosanne, Edward, Andrew (Nora), Genevieve (Richard) Brown, Patricia (Jack) Shannon, and Linda (Edward) Molenaar. He is remembered by his 20 grandchildren and their spouses/partners: Michael (Mary) Ott, Peter (Danielle) Ott, Julie (Martin) Speyer, Stephen Ott, Karen Clark (Tim Kennedy), Kathryn Clark, Tamara (Andrew) Dolan, Alex Tucker, Zachary Tucker, Hilary (Mike) Olshansky-Duke, Olivea Duke, Jacqueline Brown, Stephanie Brown, Christopher Brown, Rachel (Josh) Bombay, Jesse Williams, Brandon Williams (Angelique Medina), Johnathan Molenaar (Theresa Beaumont), Christina Molenaar and Sean Molenaar. Also, by his 13 great-grandchildren: Cate and Ally Ott, Ben and Annika Ott, Mace and Annaka Speyer, Chasen Ott, Finnley and Caleb Dolan, Amelia Saunders, Oliver Bombay and Hailie and Rebecca Andry.


Fondly remembered by his eldest sister Vickie Ptolemy, and brother-in-law Bill Scott. Predeceased by siblings and spouses George (Jessie) Duke, Ernie (Bea) Duke, Faith Scott, Kay (Don) Ford, and Charlie (Pat) Duke.


Born in Toronto in 1926, John grew up mostly in Toronto, mainly in the area known as the Stockyards, however, his family did move to Detroit, Michigan during the Depression for a period of 5 years when John was 3 years old. He did not achieve his high school diploma, since he left school at age 17 in order to join the army, training at Ipperwash, but it was while he was stationed in Woodstock that he met his wife to be Reta. He was a talented machinist, having taken a course in High School, and during his life he worked hard building his career up from a floor mechanic to a company Engineer, working first at Delamere and Williams in an indentured apprenticeship, then at Christie's and General Mills improving machinery output; and finally, at Lipton's where he designed packaging machinery.


John was a devoted husband and father. John and his wife Reta raised their family in Toronto, living on the Toronto Island one summer, then eventually buying a house on Highview Ave in Downsview, followed by a larger home on Lindy Lou in Weston, as more children arrived. Eventually retirement saw them purchasing a winter home in Florida as well as moving to Hastings, where all the children, and grandchildren loved to visit and vacation with them. After John lost his wife Reta to cancer, he returned to the GTA, first to Brampton to live with his daughter Sue, then back to Toronto to live with his sister Vickie, followed by a time spent with his daughter Linda in Fergus. John then moved to his final home at Southbrook Retirement home in Brampton.


John was an expert golfer and fisherman and enjoyed gardening, building, renovating and doing woodwork; working with his hands. He was a self-made man, clever and creative, busy and active, with a great sense of humour, always caring for his family. His was a long life, well lived. He will be dearly missed.


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