The family of W. John Kain, age 74 years, mourns his passing on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. John was the beloved husband and best friend of Helen, and dear father of Debra and Leah. John was born on the family farm south of Melita (Peninsula District) on September 21, 1928, the third child and only son of Wilford (Wit) S. Kain and Mary McKenzie Kain (Morrice). In 1934, the family moved to the Interlake area south of Eriksdale as there was feed for the cattle there. His "growing up" years were spent there. John attended La Fontaine School, driving his dog team on his homemade cart in summer and sled or skis in the winter. He drove through heavily wooded areas on his way to school and learned much of the habits of the wild animals and birds, which he later taught his family. This knowledge served him well in trapping and hunting. He was an excellent marksman and loved hunting in his earlier years. The family moved to the Chater area (McCallum farm) south of the village, arriving on his 16th birthday in 1944. He attended Brandon Collegiate for two years and then took over the family farm. In 1947, at the age of 19, John embarked on a twenty five year career in dairy farming. During this time, he served as a director of the Brandon Milk Producers Association. John married Helen Brown of Souris, at the B. Hillis farm on October 28, 1953. They have resided on the family farm since that time. In 1972, the dairy was sold and they continued to farm with beef and grain operations. In 1980, John earned his license as a Real Estate salesman and in 1986, wrote his Broker's exam, beginning John Kain Realty. John and Helen have successfully operated the realty until the time of his death. Throughout his life, John had many varied interests. In younger years, he had a great passion for pitching baseball, playing for the Chater Baseball Team and several others in the area. John demonstrated a natural talent for mechanics and invention, which served him in good stead throughout all his days. As one neighbor said, "If John says it'll work, it'll work". In later years, John spent many happy hours in his workshop restoring Allis-Chalmers tractors. John was always interested in his community and served on several boards and committees - Chairman of Chater United Church Board, Chairman of Chater Cemetery Board, Director on Austin Museum Board, and was instrumental in bringing a well to the Chater area. John was very personable and enjoyed meeting people - a man of great determination. John and Helen enjoyed traveling and camping with the truck and 5th wheel, with trips to Alaska, Peace River and many other destinations. He and Helen loved to travel and visited Hawaii, Jamaica, Barbados, Costa Rica, Great Britain and all across Canada. John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Helen; daughters, Debra Kain of Calgary, AB and Leah Kain (son-in-law, Michael Hansen) of Sarasota, Florida; brothers-in-law, Tom (Constance) Burrow of Burnaby, BC, Clair (Teresita) Brown of Souris, MB; and his faithful friend, Mitzi. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Margaret Burrow, Jean Bitner and brother-in-law Bill Bitner. The Celebration of John's life was held at Memories Chapel, Brandon on January 18, 2003. Mona Franklin officiated. Soloist and Urn Bearer was David Hillis. Interment followed at the Chater Cemetery. Friends who wish may make a donation in memory of John to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Westman Region, B 727-10th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 4G7 or the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2B7. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".

I'd like to share some remembrances of my Dad:
I remember picking saskatoons at the creek with my Dad - he always said that more went in my mouth than the bucket.? I remember spending long days fixing the pasture fence with Dad.? I remember Dad attempting to catch a sick cow in the pasture while driving the old green truck. He jumped out with the truck still in gear and it went over the bank and into the creek with the dog still in it! (The dog was fine, if a bit scared).?I remember going into town for ice cream after a full day of haying with my Dad.? I remember receiving a Quarter Horse yearling as payment after working for Dad all summer.?I remember Dad's endless succession of beloved Border Collies - each one more spoiled than the last.? I remember going for family horseback rides, each member on their favorite horse...I also remember that I fainted while helping Dad and Dr. Martin with a caesarean surgery and that Dad never tired of telling that story.?I remember Dad shooting Magpies off the back of a cow.? I remember waking to what I called Dad's "Sunday Morning Sermon" when he was fixing something in the yard and it wasn't going quite right.? I remember Dad's concern when, after a game of catch with Deb and I, he told Mom that we were "throwing like girls".? I remember Dad tripping as he stepped down off the tractor, doing a complete somersault and walking away without missing a beat.?I remember being allowed to miss school for the annual "cattle drive".? I remember how much my Dad loved and adored my mother and I remember how, when I was very young, I wanted only to be just like my Dad. I still hope to aspire to this.
Leah

Celebration of my life with Dad!
Though Mom was the qualified teacher in our house, Dad had his own way of instructing us in a "learn by my example" kind of way. So, I have composed today what I call a list of "Dad's lessons". Necessity is the mother of invention.? Dad could always invent some machine to do the job he needed to do. With the large garden he and Mom had, there were a ton of weeds. "Vintage Dad", he invented, (he saw the original on tv), a rotary weeder operated from the tractor! He got all of the weeding done without ever having to get off. Always be bound to your word.? Dad went to great lengths to live up to this lesson and expected us to do the same. If Dad said he would do something either for me or with me, I could count on him following through. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right.? However, my Dad and I often had a disagreement as to WHO was right! On one particular occasion, when Dad and I went out to do chores together, after we had had some initial disagreement, Leah turned to Mom and said "Don't worry, one of them will be back soon". Hard work is the order of the day.? Anybody who knew Dad, knew how much he believed in hard work and how much of it he did. Often people said to Dad, "oh, it's too bad you don't have anyone to help you", meaning "no sons". Mom, Leah and I wondered, "what we were considered to be doing when we drove the combine, milked the cows and baled hay"? You can be whatever you want to be.? Even though Dad had daughters (and as we all know, sons on a farm are the ultimate), he raised us to believe that the sky was the limit. He proved it to us himself, when, being over 50 and having not written more than his name for 35 years, he not only took courses for becoming a real estate agent but wrote his brokerage exam to start his own business. And how proud of that business he was! To him, it was never work. He would always defer us when we asked him about his potential retirement date. YOU can make the world a better place!? Dad always encouraged us to take part in helping others. He was a member of various community boards and helped others whenever he could with either his machinery or his time. Family and Friends are very important.? No one was happier than Dad when our small family was all together, whether it be at home, Florida or Calgary or just out camping and cooking on the Bar-b-que. When Mom and Dad would come back from a trip somewhere, Leah and I would always marvel at all the new friends that they made. For years afterward, they would keep in contact with old friends and constantly add new ones to their circle. Animals are people too.? Dad had a great love of animals. Almost everyone knows of his dogs. Did you know that Dad had eight barn cats that he fed store bought milk and cat food each morning? A balance between work and play is essential.? Even though Dad worked hard, in his younger years he had a great passion for baseball and he loved pitching, for which he was sought after by many a team in the area. In his later years, he loved to travel. Trips to Hawaii, San Francisco, Costa Rica, the Maritimes, the British Isles and Alaska were only a few of the many trips he took. He especially appreciated the fact that Leah and I moved around, as he then could visit us and see a new part of the country at the same time. Last but not least, Dad believed in relationships and partnerships going hand in hand. No one had a better example of the wonderful partnership that can be had in a marriage than Leah and I. Mom and Dad were rarely apart and worked harmoniously side by side from the very start. Together they built a successful farm and a flourishing real estate business. I'm so glad all of you could be here today to celebrate my Dad's wonderful life. Thank you so much for coming as friends and family meant everything to him.
Debra