Ole KIAR

KIAR, Ole
Passed away peacefully at dawn on Monday, June 27, 2016 at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Ole was born in Montreal on October 28, 1926 to Marie (nee Hennings) and Mogens Kiar. Loving husband of Kathleen "Kitty" (nee McMenamon) for 64 years. Predeceased by his son, Peter Ole (1995). Dedicated father of Wendy Margot, Stuart Kermack (Katherine) and Ian Georg Hennings (Stephanie Shinkoda). Proud grandfather of Alexander, Kazu and Elsa. Predeceased by sister Bitten Thompson (Allan) and survived by brother Palle (Marie), sister-in-law Liane Smith and many nieces and nephews. A proud Canadian, Ole cherished his Danish heritage. He graduated from Shawinigan High School in 1944, and went on to earn a degree in chemistry from Bishop's University in 1949. Ole met his wife of 64 years, Kitty, in 1951, after stumbling at a ski party and landing at her feet. They married on June 23, 1952 in Drummondville, Quebec. Ole began his career at Shawinigan Chemicals in 1950, but the bulk of his working life spanned four decades in the pulp and paper industry. During the 1960s to 1980s Ole was a staunch defender of English language education rights in the Province of Quebec, serving on the St. Maurice Valley Protestant School Board, the Quebec Association of Protestant School Boards, and the Canadian School Trustees Association. Ole moved the family to nearby Grand Mere in 1972 as he and Kitty built their family home on the shores of the St. Maurice River. Their new home quickly became a social hub for the community, with parties, bonfires, and annual visits from the Ottawa Kiars on Labour Day. Ole spent countless hours building many limestone walls that framed the house against the river. Not much of a swimmer, Ole preferred to be on top of the Saint Maurice River in his canoe (The WENPET) or his Flying Junior sailboat (THE WISP). Ole also pursued his love of skiing in the mountains of the Laurentians, Eastern Townships and Mount Washington in New Hampshire where one spring day he climbed Tuckerman's Ravine and skied down. In 1985, Ole moved to Consolidated Bathurst's head office in Montreal to take on a job in Technical Services. This career change also meant saying goodbye to Shawinigan; Ole and Kitty eventually settled in Creg Quay near Lancaster Ontario. For the next 6 years, Ole travelled to Toronto weekly to consult with various consolidated clients. Retirement in 1991 brought skiing, tennis, travel, bridge, scrabble and more sailing in the WISP II on the mighty St. Lawrence River. Ole and Kitty moved to Chatham Ontario in 2008 to be closer to family and while Ole's pace slowed down, he continued to enjoy tennis and bridge. A life well lived, Ole will be missed by his loving family and friends old and new. Visiting at Thomas Deburger Funeral Home, 620 Cross Street, Dresden (519-683-4343) on Friday, July 8, 2016 from 7-9 p.m. Service in celebration of Ole's life will be held from the funeral home chapel on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 1:00 p.m., followed by reception with light refreshments. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be offered at
www. deburgerfuneralhome.com.