NEWARK, Michael John – May 16, 1961 – April 14, 2015. After a very courageous and difficult 13-month battle with leukemia (AML), Mike passed away at home in the arms of family members on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. It is with incredible heartache that his wife, Karen (nee Dutfield) and children, Kathryn, Hillary and Graeme, say good-bye to a much-loved husband and daddy. Mike was born in Frobisher Bay, N.W.T. (now Iqaluit, Nunavut) but spent the majority of his younger years growing up in the Brampton area. He graduated from both Guelph and Waterloo Universities, and was on the board of directors for Conestoga College as a technical advisor. For the past 10 years, he has been the Director of Building Services at Guelph-Eramosa Township, and prior to that, he worked for Gamsby and Mannerow in both Guelph and Owen Sound. Although he enjoyed his work, his main passion was his family. He supported (and pushed!) the children to experience new things and to always do their best. He was a tireless “dance dad”, a Scout leader, and coach for Stanley Stick and Guelph Girls Hockey Associations. Mike enjoyed cycling, hockey, swimming, travelling, camping, model planes, local history, and continuous renovating and “puttering” around the house and yard! Mike is survived by his parents, Doris Newark (nee Loucks) of Guelph and Michael (Shaeron) Newark Sr. of Wellesley, his sister Sandra (Luke) Cheslock of Guelph, and his brother, Sean (Jennifer) Newark of Alliston. Mike is the son-in-law to Joan and Leon Dutfield of Nanaimo, B.C. (formerly of the Owen Sound area) and will be sadly missed by nieces and nephews, family friends, co-workers, contractors, and others whose lives he touched. We wish to thank Dr. Amy Tam of Grand River Hospital, Dr. Irwin Walker of Juravinski and their respective healthcare teams for their caring hearts and brilliant minds. We are also extremely grateful for all the blood donors who made this journey possible. Mike has requested that friends donate blood and stem cells to the Canadian Blood Services, or donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society of Canada. Donation cards are available at the funeral home (519-821-5077) or condolences may be left online at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.
