With heavy hearts, we announce that our dad, John Cunday passed away peacefully on February 25, 2021 in the Golden Door Geriatric Centre, at the age of 77.

 

John is survived by sons, George (Debbie) and Keith; daughter Joann; their mother Freda Cunday, all from Winnipeg. He will also be missed by his grandchildren, Ryan, Brett (Mary), Chris, Dylan, Jonathan, Jordan, Aaron, Oceana, Davis, Colin, and Samantha; and great-grandchildren, Jack and Elizabeth. He was predeceased by daughter Jackie Cunday, of Thompson, MB, in 1995; parents, George and Nellie Cunday, of Moosimin, SK; and sister Joyce Hall, of Naramata BC.

 

The family would like to acknowledge lifetime friends, Betty and Pete K., Jim H., Grant Y., Richard H., Nick D., the Fitzner family, Bob B., Gary U., and Lorraine B. Special thanks to the Golden Door Geriatric Centre for the care they provided John during his time there.

 

John was born in Whitewood, SK September 14, 1943 to George and Nellie Cunday (née Chorney), older brother to Joyce. He was raised on a farm near Wapalla, SK, where he learned to live off the land and raise farm animals. This is where John’s passion for hunting and fishing began.

 

He made his way to the wild frontier of northern Thompson, MB in 1962 where he started working for Inco. He settled there as a young electrician in a worker’s dormitory.  He rewound motors underground as a mine employee.  Eventually he took his work to the surface, now as a contractor to the mine for the electrical work. He completed a Motor winding apprenticeship in 1967. He started his electric generator systems training at the Lincoln Electric company in Cleveland Ohio in 1969 and completed Factory Training School for the ONAN company in 1975. He started KNC Electric with two other people in 1967 which to this day, are still providing services.

 

John started his own company called Tupar Enterprises in 1982.  For the next 10 years dad purchased several buildings and repurposed them. He established one of the best places to stay in Thompson for residential renting. He erected apartment buildings and housed hundreds of families over the years.  Many in Thompson are indebted to John for things he did, opportunities he created and kindnesses he gave. While his business ran, Dad helped with the development with the north by providing electric support for the highway, City of Thompson, northern airports, and communities.

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John married Freda Fitzner in 1965 and had four kids. He played competitive Broom Ball and Hard Ball in the nineteen-sixties and seventies. He was part of the community to host the national 1978 Canadian Lacrosse championship in Thompson. He also contributed by refereeing the games. Dad loved to be active with the kid’s hockey and lacrosse. He managed, coached, and sponsored the kids growing up.

 

We spent a lot of time camping in tents and purchased the cabin at Paint Lake in 1979 where the family spent many years enjoying the outdoors. Dad had annual moose hunting trips till they stopped getting a moose. This then turned into fishing trips to Reindeer Lake and Reed Lake for the monster lake trout. He had annual deer hunting trips to his getaway spot around Gypsumville MB.

 

In 2011 dad had an accident that resulted in a brain injury which he never fully recovered from. 

 

John’s son George was at his Dad’s side when he passed away in his sleep. He may not have died from Covid-19 but it certainly was a contributing factor. 

 

The family wants to remember John as the life force he was when he was healthy. He had the kind of heart that showed he cared for people. John Thomas Cunday, a true Thompsonite, left many tributes to his life, which stand across the skyline of Thompson, Manitoba.

 

A private family viewing was held on March 2, 2021, followed by cremation. A celebration of his life will take place in Thompson, this summer, when it is possible to gather. In the meantime, John’s family kindly requests that his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by sharing your own photos and/or sharing your own memories and stories using the comment section on this page.