In Memory of

David

George

Loney

Obituary for David George Loney

David “Dave” George Loney
Dad was humble and lived by example. He didn’t tell us, or anyone else, how to live. The closest he got to preaching was “keep the freshest milk at the back of the shelf.” He worked at Cloverleaf Grocery for nearly seventy years and enjoyed spending time with his cherished store family.
Dad grabbed onto every beautiful thing about life. He was a master storyteller with an amazing sense of humour. He liked slow drives in the country and paddling and picnicking on the Rainy. He was also an exceptional harmonica player and enjoyed singing. On the second last day of his life - through physical discomfort and the fog and confusion of Alzheimer’s - he sang the Oh What a Beautiful Morning. Oh What a Beautiful Day.
He reminisced about playing hockey and baseball with his pals, swimming at The Point and his adventures with his Strachan farm-cousins in Box Alder. He often talked about missing the company of his parents Lawrence and Grace and his younger siblings Larry, Bill and Judy (Klug) all of whom have previously passed.
In addition to the Loney families, Dave is missed by his brother-in-law Fred Klug, the Harland/Lee clan which he married in to, Patrick leMaistre and Barb Engel.
One of dad’s favourite places was his little one-room cabin on the Rainy River. He went there to commune with nature, watch the birds, write short stories and read. He was Mark Twain’s biggest fan (his oldest child is named Mark).
Dad was a good curler and enjoyed running and diving off docks on Clearwater Lake well into his 70’s.
Our dad was so genuine. He cherished simplicity over extravagance, routine over change, cabins over mansions, wiener roasts over steak dinners, milk over cocktails, and birding over television. We could not be more proud.
Dad lived all his 89 years in his much-loved town of Emo. He is fondly remembered by Janet (Harland) his wife of 58 years and their children Mark (Vicki), Dan (Kathy), Joanna (Ralph) and Shaun (Fiona). Mary (Moira) joined the family when she was 18 and remained special to him right up until his passing. Dave is missed also by his grandchildren - Brendon, Allison (Storseth), Rosalie (Dubuc), David, Andrew, Weslee, Owen and Aandeg (Muldrew) and his great-grandchildren - Ashlyn, Ruby, Bea, Griffin, Oliver, Marek, Dreydan.
We will smile when we think of you Dad. We miss you. Thanks for everything.
Donations may be made in memorial to Knox United Church Outreach Box 186, Emo, ON POW 1E0 or Alzheimer’s Society 618-9th St. North Kenora, ON PN9 2S9.
A link to an on-line celebration of his life will be available on Emo Devlin Knox United Church Facebook site at 2 pm on Sunday February 7th.