John Richard Thistle

Mesquite, Nevada – John Richard Thistle, 73, passed away on December 10, 2024. Born February 14, 1951 in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vivian Amelia (Gallop) and John Marvin Thistle.

John was married twice, to his first love Gloria Irene Wick, and later to the love of his life, Colleen Mae Slick in Victoria, British Columbia. 

John was raised in Toronto, Ontario, left school at 16 with a thirst for adventure, enrolling in the Canadian Navy. He retired as a Petty Officer First Class in 1990, but forever dreamt of his time on the open seas and longed for the deep and abiding friendships he made along the way. John had a 30 year dance with heart disease, and struggled with depression and loneliness, particularly after the loss of his brother, step-daughter and then his wife Colleen. Ultimately it was his heart that gave in.

As a true Maritimer, John was a storyteller through and through, regaling friends and family with shenanigans from his youth and Navy days, often cracking himself up and his audience along the way. He loved riding his Harley with friends from Salt Lake City north along the highways and byways and into western Canada. Despite being somewhat solitary in nature, John’s kindness attracted others who found in him a smart(assed), compassionate, funny and good-natured soul companion. John was a gentleman. He loved a cold beer on a hot day (and none of that craft brewed “caca”), or scotch and a cigar in cooler weather. Coffee wasn’t coffee to John without a dose of Carolan’s Irish Cream.

A fan of all kinds of sport, John played golf, hockey, broomball and baseball, and was even scouted to the Major Leagues as a young man. He was also an avid reader and a semi-professional bowler.

John and Colleen (who was in the US Navy Reserves) met when John’s ship was anchored in San Francisco in 1982; the two fell madly in love. Determined to find a way to be together, Colleen traded time in Canada until John could retire from the Canadian Navy; at that time the two would move to West Valley City, Utah, to be closer to Colleen’s family. Colleen and John were season’s ticket holders to the Salt Lake City Bees, often bringing visitors to games.

John is survived by his daughter, Shone Tricia Thistle (Heather) of Calgary, Alberta, and step-son Rocco Larry Padgett (Cami) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and his goldendoodle Doodlebug or Dood for short. Grandchildren, DJ, Derin, Julie, Jake, Sariah, Jocelyn and 7 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife Colleen Thistle, step-daughter Shelley Padgett, and brother Bruce Thistle.

Given John’s travelling ways, a formal celebration won’t be held, but the family encourages folks to gather where they are, raise a glass and give a cheers to the beautiful soul of John Richard Thistle.