VANNER, Dr. George Albert M.D. of Palmerston following a brief battle with cancer passed away with his family by his side at the Palmerston Hospital on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 in his 90th year. Beloved husband of Giovanna (Joanne) Paolozzi-Vanner and Thelma Vanner, mother of his children. Dear father of Cheryl and her husband Kim MacKenzie of Mount Forest, George R. Vanner and his wife Elizabeth of Cambridge, Scott Vanner of Palmerston and Richard Vanner and his wife Heather of Brantford. Loving grandfather and great grandfather of Robert and Elizabeth MacKenzie, Emma, Ava and Calum, Shayne and Stacey MacKenzie, Abigail and Cooper; Andrew and Beth Vanner, Charlotte and Harry, Bethany and Seth Partridge, Nora and baby on the way, Kirk and Eliza Vanner, Anastazia, Clarissa Vanner and her friend Aaron; Joshua Vanner and Laura Vanner. Brother of Jim Vanner and his wife Jean of Pembroke, Norma and her husband Don Mawson of Paris and Marg and her husband Bruce Fryett of Elora. Brother-in-law of John and Antonia Ricciardelli of London. Missed by several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his Parents George and Clementine Vanner and his daughter Marilyn Vanner. As the preeminent family physician and surgeon serving the Palmerston community for many years Dr. Vanner was widely known and respected for his accomplishments as a General Practitioner and as a founder of the present Palmerston Hospital. Prior to establishing his practice in Palmerston he served as a Captain with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. in Korea and Japan and remained active with the Korean Veterans Association of Canada. His time of medical training was completed at the University of Ottawa. He also served as a Coroner for the Central West (formerly Guelph) Region for many years and was recognized as the pioneer of the very successful eye donor program at the Palmerston Hospital. Following retirement in 1991 he remained active in medicine and turned his interest to infertility treatment. Outside of professional life, Dr. Vanner was perhaps best noted for his passion for gardening and later the art of Bonsai along with stamp collecting and world travel. He was a strong and vocal proponent of his community, having served as a municipal councillor in Palmerston as well as on numerous boards and committees over the years, all with the aim of making his community a better place to live. To honour Dr. Vanner’s wishes his body has been donated to the University of Guelph for Medical Research. A Memorial Visitation of Remembrance will be held at the Heritage Funeral Home, 267 Main Street West, Palmerston on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the sharing of memories taking place at 3:30 p.m. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or to the Canadian Diabetes’s Association would be appreciated by the family. www.heritagefuneralhomes.ca
