In Memory of

Reginald

"Reg"

Earle

Rose

Obituary for Mr. Reginald "Reg" Earle Rose

Reginald Earle Rose
July 26, 1922 – May 6, 2017


Reginald Earle Rose died at the home he and Helen built, on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the age of 94. Reg was born on July 26, 1922 in Fort William to Adelaide Pike of Norfolk, UK and Alexander Rose of Belleoram, NL. He grew up in Westfort with 5 brothers and many close neighbourhood friends.


Reg signed up in 1941 with the Patricia Pats just before his 19th birthday and served with the 7th Anti Tank Regiment. He proudly called himself a ‘D-Day Dodger’ as he fought in the Italian Campaign before moving north to help liberate Europe. We didn’t hear much about the fighting, just that it was horrible. The stories we heard were the funny ones, the pranks. After the war, Dad credited Mom for helping him deal with his demons. Reg left school early to help support the family by working at the Bankfield Goldmines in Beardmore. After the war, he worked at CanCar, then at Patterson Elevators and lastly, Great Lakes from which he retired.


Reg loved sports, especially hockey. The truant officer always knew where to find him – at Brown Street rink! Reg played centre with the Westfort Maroons in his youth, then for the Bankfield Miners. After the war, he played with the Lake Superior Regiment 54s and then with the Pepsi Petes. In the early 60’s he, with the help of Ella Shields, started up hockey in South Neebing. After retirement, he organized his Westfort buddies to play at a local arena. Reg enjoyed watching the many hockey channels. Golf was another passion. He looked forward to Mondays and Great Lakes’ Day at the Fort William Golf Club. His hockey skills served him well on the links and he was a sought after member for golf teams. Dad could drive! Dad was a jack of all trades. He could fix a car, build a camp from his own sketch, and repair a broken coffee grinder! Nothing fazed him.


Reg was predeceased by his wife, Helen Catherine Watson; his son, Reginald Jr.; his granddaughter, Christina Harrison; his parents; four brothers: Rodger, Ernest, Gordon and Alex; and many Westfort buddies.


He is survived by his brother, Arthur Rose; his daughters: Catherine Mochrie (Ian) and Janet Harrison (Glenn) and his son, James. He was a proud grandfather to: Cameron and Elizabeth Mochrie and Scott, David and Andrew Harrison. Several nieces, nephews and sisters-in-law also survive.


A celebration of Reg Rose’s life will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 2:00pm in the First Presbyterian Church (corner of Grey and Walsh Streets). In lieu of flowers, donations made in memory of Reg to the AIDS Committee of Thunder Bay or the Shelter House Thunder Bay would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Westfort Chapel, 420 West Gore Street, Thunder Bay.