Ian John Vincett Fillery

On the afternoon of Thursday, February 18, with his favourite wife Jo (aka “Mother”) at his side, Ian left for his next Adventure.  After a struggle with cancer, Ian slipped away peacefully in his own bed at Fillery Hill, the home he and Jo built together 34 years ago in Hillsburgh.

Born in 1942 in Salisbury England, Ian came to Canada in 1969 on his way to Australia.  But he never left.  He fell in love with this country immediately, and fell in love with Jo in 1980.  Over the years they had a wonderful life together raising their daughter Elly and later their grandson Adam, and building lifelong relationships with a few close friends.    

Ian will be remembered for his many unique creations, inventions, creative use of the English language and whimsical perspective – not to mention his inexplicable collection of household items and ability to turn windmills into time machines.    As an explorer and creator, Ian saw wonder and possibilities in everything and what’s more, he acted on them, bringing joy, laughter and a lot of shaking of heads to those around him.   A luge run, Sap Sucker, Get-Wet-You-Bet dunk tank, living room zipper, star-trek doors and intricate and whimsical art are just a few of Ian’s creations.

A gifted tool and dye professional working in robotics, the 1984 North American sidecar champion, blues lover, artist, fire guy, avid reader, and professor of hermitdom  establish Ian as truly one-of-a-kind. It will be hard to “imaginate” a world without him.

But above all, Ian will be remembered for the good, kind, loving and totally accepting man that he was. He never liked people fussing over him or being the center of attention. However, without saying a word, people would gravitate to him and his energy.

Ian is survived by his wife Joanne (Jo), daughter Elly Halvorsen (the apple of his eye) and her husband James Halvorsen, grandsons Adam Wilson and Rylan Fillery, and sister Ann Fillery.

If you wish to make a donation in Ian’s name, please consider Bethel House Hospice in Inglewood Ontario.

There will be a spectacular sendoff for family and Ian’s closest friends at Fillery Hill in the spring.   In the meantime, next time you’re having a cocktail, consider a White Russian and toast the King of Fillery Hill with your “whitie”.