Dr. Walter Halliday Johnson

Our family is grieving the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, brother – Walter Halliday Johnson – on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at the age of 76 years.

Walter is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joyce, daughter Christine (Jim Elliott and their children Sadie, Eliza and Edwin (Ted) Walter). He is also survived by brothers Lorne (Kathy), Howard (Joan), sister Eleanor (Mike Stringer), numerous nieces and nephews and Joyce’s siblings Gale (Ed), Bryan and Karen. He was a loving, caring husband, father and grandfather. Keeping in touch with the extended family was important to him. His final joy was his grandchildren. In his last week at home it was the possibility of getting to the park to watch them play that had him considering the possibility of accepting assisted mobility devices. He derived much pleasure watching them play in our back yard. During covid he built a literal water park – bouncy castle, splash pool, custom spray hoses, waterslide – anything to make being at Bopa’s fun. His last venture out into the world was to get Sadie a gift for her ninth birthday – a kobo so she could read as much as she wanted to. We will miss him always, but especially at Eliza and Ted’s upcoming birthdays.

Walter was born and raised in Beaverlodge, Alberta, a small town in the Peace River area of northern Alberta. Parents Verne and Ruth raised 4 children on a medium-sized mixed farm. The Johnsons homesteaded that land, having arrived in 1910. The farm was a mixed enterprise with work and saddle horses, beef and milk cows, pigs, chickens, dogs. This was an excellent childhood for a budding veterinarian. Walter studied veterinary medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, graduating in 1972. After 6 years in a mixed small animal/large animal practice in northern Alberta he returned to Saskatoon to complete a Masters in Veterinary Science. The studies there involved cattle reproduction. He became skilled in the art of non-surgical bovine embryo transfer, a new and exciting science at the time – one of the first to cryopreserve embryos on the farm. In 1983 he joined the Theriogenology group at the Ontario Veterinary College. He often said he had had the greatest job in the world. The students were the best and the brightest, a pleasure to teach. He taught many outstanding and successful grad students, and remained a lifelong friend with many of his colleagues. Walter was active outside OVC, serving as President of the College of Veterinarians and on the board of the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association.

Walter loved his sports. He played baseball and hockey into his thirties. But his real passion was curling. He was part of a team that went to the Ontario Mens’ Provincial finals, twice, and a team that earned a spot at the Canadian Senior Mens Final in Calgary in 2001. In addition to the love of the sport he truly treasured the after-game camaraderie. Later he added golf to his pursuits and again loved the socializing. Woodworking became a big part of his retirement, his projects becoming gifts if you were lucky.

Resting at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St, Guelph where cremation has taken place. The family invites friends and relatives for a visitation on Sunday, February 4, 2024 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm at Harcourt Memorial United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph, followed by a Memorial Service beginning at 2:00pm. For those who are unable to join in person, the service will be livestreamed. Link to follow below in the next few days.

For those who wish to make a donation in Walter’s memory please consider Harcourt Memorial United Church (in Guelph), Ontario Veterinary College or Guelph General Hospital.