Graham David Kennedy

Graham Kennedy passed away peacefully on June 14, 2015 in his 93rd year. He was the loving husband to Helen (McEachern) for 66 years. Committed father to Norman, David (Gail), Lynda, Marilynne (Robert) and Kim (Scott) and the doting grandfather to Megan, Michael, Lana, Maddie, Avery and Graham. Graham was born in Toronto in 1922, one of two brothers who fulfilled his duty and obligation to country and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on July 1, 1941 at the age of 18. He earned his wings in 1942 and flew the skies over Europe in a Typhoon in Normandy, covering the allies and moving to liberate the Dutch based in Eindhoven. His tour of duty continued until his plane was shot down by anti-aircraft over Holland in November of 1944. Unlike his brother Bill whose plane was downed two weeks earlier, Graham survived and lived the rest of his life with the after-effects of a broken back and concussion. But it never stopped him. He met wife Helen after the war and was married in 1949. Graham graduated with a degree in mining engineering from the University of Toronto in 1950 and began a successful career in the mining equipment industry until he retired in 1986. Retirement meant something completely different to "Poppa"; it meant starting a new career. And a career it was. Graham acquired his real estate license and began selling commercial properties with passion for 10 years. His life was always full and between puttering on do it yourself projects and what is perhaps the longest boathouse and rail renovation (it never really ended), kept himself constantly engaged and busy. The family cottage on Sturgeon Lake near Fenelon Falls was a joy and passion and the meeting place for his children, in-laws, grandchildren and countless friends. He was an avid reader who kept up to date on the world around him, was internet savvy at teaching other seniors how to use the web and shared his war stories with schoolkids during each school year and was a hot commodity for Remembrance Day celebrations. He shared his life with others. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Pkwy. S. in Aurora, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Schizophrenia Society of Canada 100-4 Fort Street Winnipeg MB R3C 1C4 Special thanks to Hollandview Trail Retirement Community and Newmarket Health Centre for special caring. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=175096486#sthash.BQQMUqrK.dpuf