Mr. William Edward Mill, best known as Ted, passed away peacefully in his 87th year on Tuesday 18 April 2017.
Ted was born in Port Arthur, Ontario to Thomas William and Jane Adelaide Mill, reportedly in the family home at 364 Dacre Street. As a teenager, he worked on the Orient Bay, a tug working on Lake Nipigon, and the Cheyenne, a small lake boat working between Port Arthur and Montreal, and at PA Shipyards with his father.
Ted married his sweetheart, Rosie Draganiuk in 1948, and together they raised two sons, Thomas William and John Stuart in Kingston, Ottawa and Port Arthur/Thunder Bay.
His Father served in the Canadian Army, seeing action overseas with the locally raised 52nd Battalion during the Great War, and the military held an attraction for Ted as well. He was a member of RCSCC Vindictive Sea Cadet Corps, and later joined the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), and was stationed in Kingston and Ottawa. Serving three years, he then left the army and returned to Port Arthur to raise his family. Back in Port Arthur, he started what was to be a 30 year career in the Port Arthur/Thunder Bay Fire Department. Ted qualified and acted as a company officer (lieutenant) then became the Training Officer, then Assistant Deputy, Deputy and ultimately Fire Chief, Thunder Bay Fire Department, retiring August 1988.
Also upon his return to Port Arthur, Ted rejoined the military, becoming a member of the local RCEME Company at the Armories where he reached the rank of sergeant. Ted became an author with an article published in the prestigious Fire Engineering magazine, describing the mechanics of grain elevator explosions following the Cargill grain elevator explosion in town which very nearly claimed the lives of a number of city firefighters; and worked together with Lakehead University to produce a film on the dangers of oxygen enriched atmospheres following a tragic incident involving workers killed while using cutting torches within a lake boat. The goal of these productions was to educate fellow firefighters and save lives.
Ted was an artist in many ways. His pride and joy was the South Bend lathe that he installed in the basement at the Montclair house and later moved to Lakeshore Drive. He could make anything with that machine. He sketched, painted in oils and water colours and took photos. One of his photos was selected for the 1967 book “Canada, A Year of the Land”, published by the National Film Board.
Ted truly enjoyed his retirement, travelling extensively with Rosie; fishing with family and friends; being on his property on Lakeshore Drive, walking his beloved dogs Sandy and Kellie on the trail cut through the bush; but most especially, spending time with Rosie, his sons, and grandkids.
He was always available to help out and took great pleasure teaching his sons mechanics, wiring, plumbing, carpentry; the things to get through this world. Nothing, it seems, was too much for him to try as shown by the fact that he built two homes, virtually by himself.
Ted is survived by Rose his wife of nearly 70 years; Sons Bill (Ruth) and John (Virginia); granddaughter Robyn; grandson Curtis (Natalie) and his three great-grandsons Mason, Caleb and Aiden.
Ted was predeceased by his parents and daughter-in-law Barbara.
The service to honour William Edward Mill’s life will take place at Harbourview Funeral Centre on Monday, 24 April 2017 starting at 11:00 a.m, under the auspices of the Royal Canadian Legion. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service and during the reception that will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the Mill family respectfully request donations to the Alzheimer Society or the charity of your choice.
