Obituary of John Bleasby Atkinson

John passed away at the K-W Campus of Grand River Hospital on Monday, September 16, 2019 at the age of 79.

He was born in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, England, on June 13, 1940, and eventually schooled in Dairy Technology at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayrshire, Scotland.

After an unsettled start to a career in the Dairy Industry in England, Kenya (where he also trained in the Kenya Regiment’s first mixed race intake in 1961), England again, and Toronto, Canada, before he turned up at the Maple Lane Dairy Division of Beatrice Foods Inc. in Kitchener, Ontario in January of 1971, where his presence was strangely tolerated in Quality Control for 18 years, and then as Production Manager from 1989 until his retirement in September, 1999 – but, it is believed, nevertheless, that an interesting time was had by all!

On day-one of his employment at Maple Lane Dairy, John met “the love of his life”, Jacqueline (nee Toms), and they married on July 21, 1971.

John is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; sisters, Katie Adams and husband Jack and Lucy Greaves and husband Leslie, all of England; sister-in-law, Judi Ballah; brother-in-law, Jim and Helen Toms; niece, Rebecca Fieldhouse; and dear friends, Mike and Marie Wolf and Wayne and Kathy Krulicki.

He is predeceased by his parents, John Marmaduke and Gertrude Elizabeth and sister, Jean Atkinson.

John’s ashes will be scattered locally where he most enjoyed his life and accomplishments as a citizen of Canada.

There will be no visitations or religious services.  Condolences for the family and memorial donations to the K-W Humane Society may be arranged by contacting the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.

From a “Yorkshire Tyke” to a registered Canadian – what a trip!