Stuart Malcolm McKinnon

On May 4, 2019 at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Stuart passed peacefully surrounded by the love and gratitude of his family.  His family’s grief is deep at the loss of this gentle, honourable and profoundly decent man who provided such love and support to his extended family. 

Born in a farmhouse before the Great Depression in Wellington County in rural southwestern Ontario, Stuart’s life spanned almost a century that has been punctuated by social and economic change on an almost unimaginable scale.  From learning to drive a Model T Ford to regularly consulting his smart phone, he witnessed so much in a long life punctuated by much joy and some sorrow.

Stuart leaves his daughters, Karen McKinnon (Grant) and Connie Rosebush (Chad), two granddaughters, Avery and Stella and a grandson, Rhys.  He is predeceased by his parents, Ella and Arnold McKinnon and by his siblings, Douglas, Alastair and Elinor.  He is survived by his devoted brother, Kenneth McKinnon, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. 

After proudly serving in the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Airforce, 419 Squadron, as a member of the ground crew supporting Lancaster aircraft, he returned to Wellington County where he owned and operated a trucking company, Royal City Transport.  He later joined Cox Construction where he worked for several decades as a valued member of this family-run business.

Throughout his long life, Stuart was a loving family man, an active member of his community and church and fine friend to many.  He has reaped the benefits of his deep devotion to people, and throughout the many changes required in his later years, he was always able to set down roots in new places, making deep and lasting friendships, that touched many other lives along the way, while enriching his own.   

As a proud and engaged Canadian, he cared deeply about current affairs all his life, always quick with an opinion on the day’s events.

In addition to his many accomplishments as a father, colleague and friend, he was a deeply creative person who left a lasting legacy for his family in many fine pieces of furniture built with equal measures of skill and love.  Up until the last week of his life, at the Perley, Stuart continued to enjoy woodworking class. From his wartime and other experiences with mechanics, he retained a lifelong love of engines and amassed an impressive collection in retirement.  He was a member of the Milton Steam Era Association for over 25 years and won many awards for his hand-built quarter-size model engine.

The fine example Stuart set by the way he chose to live his life will serve to comfort his bereft family in their time of profound grief and loss.

Visitation will be held at MacIntyre Family Funeral Home, 5399 Wellington Road 52, Erin, Ontario on Friday May 10 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  A funeral service giving thanks for the life of Stuart will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 83 Trafalgar Rd North, Hillsburgh, Ontario on May 11 at 10:00 am.  Interment to follow at Coningsby cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you consider a donation to a charity of your choice or to the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation, Creative Arts Studio, (perleyrideau.ca) and take a moment to savour all of life’s many blessings, as Stuart would want you to do.  Cards will be available at the funeral home or you may also send the family a condolence at www.macintyrefamilyfuneralhome.com

MacIntyre Family Funeral Home

519-833-2231