Taylor, Ronald

Mr. Ronald Taylor, age 75 years, resident of Thunder Bay, died peacefully in his sleep at home, on Friday, January 14, 2005. Born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, he grew up there and attended Campion College (Jesuit) in Regina. His family moved to Fort William, and Ron attended FWCI. He apprenticed at Rondeau Sheet Metal and then worked at New Idea and NESCO. His strong work ethic was apparent in everything he did. He then became the Business Agent for Local 397 of the Sheet Metal Workers Union for 21 years until retirement. Ron taught sheet metal at night school at Westgate for several years; he was a member of the NDP Party and the Construction Safety Association and was president of the Labour Center Credit Union and later on the Board of Directors of the Superior Credit Union. He married Mirjam Wirtanen on June 28, 1950, and together they raised seven children. He loved his camp at Prelate Lake, traveling, especially to Florida and British Columbia, gardening and building model ships. He also enjoyed his dogs, watching hockey and baseball and reading. Ron is survived by his wife Mirjam, children, Joanne Kelly (Rejean), Thunder Bay, Jacqueline, Thunder Bay, Jon (Jan) Vancouver B.C. , Warren (Cathy) St. Augustine, Florida, Lisa (Randy) Whistler, B.C. , Allyson (Jozef), Thunder Bay, David, Thunder Bay, grandchildren, Shaun and Liisa Kelly, James, Jodie, Jaine and Cooper Freeman-Taylor, Avery Taylor-McAuley, Cole and Logan Goodwin, Natasha Taylor, sisters, Helen-Ann Mauro, Fern Tonkin, brother, Shaun (Sylvia) Taylor, brother-in-law, Ernie (Elizabeth) Marchiori, sisters-in-law, Lisa (Tom) Legros, Eva (Jack) Walczak. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Anne Taylor, sister, Jeanine Marchiori and brothers-in-law, Ron Mauro and Dick Tonkin. Cremation has taken place and Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2005, when friends and family will gather at 10:00 am. in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. P.M. Stilla. Final interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Northern Cancer Research Foundation or the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation would be appreciated.A tree will be planted in memory of Ronald Taylor in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove.Annual dedication service will be held Sunday, June 26, 2005. On-line Condolencesmay be sent towww.blakefuneralchapel.com