John Andrew Peel

In loving memory of John Andrew Peel.

On Friday, June 10th, 2022 at around 2:30pm John Peel’s Angel went on a coffee break and he tragically passed away. To his joy he was outside on a beautiful day doing exactly what he loved: working and helping others. He was a son to Marjorie & Harry Peel, loving husband to Barbara Joy Peel, adoring Dad to Susan Gail Peel, Proud Grandpa to Freyja Pickard, Carson MacDonald & Dakota MacDonald and smitten Great Grandpa to Laken, Tekoa, Sitka & Zia Pickard and Thatcher John MacDonald.

John was a quiet man and much of what he did, didn't make sense to a lot of us. Like why he insisted on always turning the lights out, or storing so many motors in his shed, or buying 42 broken electric scooters off the internet. But, some thing's we do know is: He was a courageous & generous man. He was quick to serve his community & didn’t seek glory. So much of what he did for people was done in secret. He was always climbing someones roof (without a harness) to fix it, bailing someone out of a financial crisis, clearing a neighbour's driveway, or in this tragedy digging a grave for an injured horse. It won’t be funny to some but the ones that know him best agree it would be funny to him, for us to ever joke about him dying digging his own grave. That one slipped out of Carson’s (John’s Grandson) mouth in a moment of grieving but, perfectly reflected the humour he adopted from his Grandpa.

John was funny with no shortage of fingers to pull before he let out a fart & said “well, we know that's working”. His eyebrow! Let's never forget how he would raise his eyebrows above his glasses with a childish grin when he was up to something playful. He loved to surprise people. The best was the time he spontaneously showed up in Australia to surprise his daughter & grandkids. It was bushfire season & the family was preparing to evacuate when John walked down the driveway. He had a habit of showing up in the exact moments of need.

John was simple. Dressed plain with his draftsman pen pocking out the top of his pocket even at a wedding. But his hair was always perfectly slicked back & up in front just like Elvis. He could whip out some pretty amazing Elvis dance moves too. Completely sober! We think this was how he wooed his bride, Barb.

Some foods we will never eat without thinking of him are butter tarts with sultanas, hot dogs, celery with cheese whiz, or Coke. He would have lived on & died from that diet a lot sooner if it weren’t Barb’s cooking he loved so much. His highest complement always being “well, we can have that again."

John was a "jack of all trades & master of many" with a redemptive vision for every broken thing. He could literally fix anything and he would teach you just as much about life & the Lord while giving you a thorough machinery education. He delighted in the Lord and making him known in all that he did.

John was a praying man who was marked by peace. He walked many difficult roads in his life but through faithful prayer he pursued the giver of peace and did what he could with what he had to point others to the same giver of hope that he had grasped. John has been prepared for this day for many years and he would urge anyone living with any sense of loose ends to go to the cross. All the loose ends can be tied up there.

The generations of John’s family & many others in his community have been changed for eternity because of what John taught in word and deed. From here on out our mourning is coupled with celebration because we know John is more alive than ever walking with his best friend, The Lord.

Celebration of Life

Respecting John's wishes, there will be no funeral however on his birthday Friday 2nd of September the Peel family will be hosting a Celebration of Life at Killara Station, 5205 Gelert Rd Minden 4-7pm. Bring along a written story to share or leave in his memory book. In lieu of flowers, a tree will be planted at the place of John's death and donations to be made to the Haliburton United Church which has been John's place of worship & community for over 50 years. Arrangements have been entrusted to the HALIBURTON COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME 13523 Hwy #118 Haliburton, Ontario 705-457-9209.