Obituary

Ken died peacefully in Guelph in his ninety-fifth year at the Elliott Community retirement home in Guelph after a long and good life. The first love of his life Margaret Lillian (Thomas) McKinnon died in 1970. He later married Mary Faith (deMille) McKinnon who died in 2017. Supportive and caring father of Barry (Susan), Wayne, Murray, Keith (Jennifer), and David (Spike) deMille (2021) (Lori Sharman); loving grandfather of Margaret, Matthew, Scott, Meaghan, Kyle, Jason, Aaron, Ashley, Andrew, and Alesha; and great-grandfather of Madison, Elara, Wendel, Sadie, Auston, Myles, Lily, and Rose. Ken was predeceased by his parents Arnold and Ella, brothers Douglas, Stuart, and Alastair, and sister Elinor (Barbour). Ken grew up on the family farm, won the King’s Guineas in 1947 and 1948 with his 4-H calves, and seemed destined for a life in agriculture and farming. However, as his wife Margaret’s health began to decline, he decided to sell the farm so that she could have a better and easier life and they moved to Hillsburgh. He eventually bought the local lumber supply business in 1971 founded by his Uncle Ross. This family business grew over the years into a thriving lumber and hardware retail store that was only recently sold after over 75 years in the McKinnon family. The family is grateful for the care provided over the last two years by all of the staff of the retirement – supportive living unit of the Elliott Community in Guelph. He was truly treated like a family member of this great facility. A funeral service will be held on Friday July 19, 2024, at 12 noon at the Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Hart Chapel located at 1099 Gordon Street in Guelph. A pre-service visitation will take place from 11am to noon. Interment will follow at the Coningsby Cemetery in Erin with a reception after at the home of Keith and Jennifer McKinnon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Elliott Community or a charity of your choice.