John F. Caskenette was born Sunday, February 11, 1940 in Preston, Ontario to Francis “Frank” P. and Isabel C. (Wehrle) Caskenette. He was the second eldest of eleven children, four boys and six girls; William J., John, Patrick, Michael, Loretta L. (Lolly), Margaret (Pudge), Elizabeth (Brucie), Eileen, Theresa (Fritzie) and Deborah. Sadly, John’s eldest William “Bill” died in house fire in 1956 while going back into the fire to rescue one of his sisters.
John attended school right through to the end of high school, likely at the one room school house in Eden Grove. John loved to read, and as an adult would read anything he could get his hands on. He read every single Stephen King novel, loved westerns and studied up on home remedies.
John loved to be near water as the Caskenette family always lived on a river. It wasn’t just the water that John loved so much; it was also the fishing as well as the hunting of ducks and geese. Fishing for brook trout and bass was a great passion. John loved to tell the story of him (at the age of 18 or so) and his brother William sitting on rocks in the river and having the waters flows over and around them. Hunting small game and birds was yet another one of John’s passions.
However, nothing came close to his love of gardening vegetables. His love of fresh vegetables is perhaps what led him to being such a great cook. At the same time, perhaps it was his fierce sense of independence that made him a culinary expert. His soups and beans were superb. People came from all over to enjoy the wine made from John’s own home grown grapes.
Being of French descent, John loved wood lots and splitting wood. John knew hard work and was never afraid of it. When younger and making fifty cents, 25 cents went to the family and 25 cents went for beer. However, he really enjoyed his whiskey. Crown Royal and Gibsons were his drinks of choice.
Even though John could be rough around the edges, he was also the “happy uncle” that everyone liked. He was very supportive and a good man, a good dad. He was not out-spoken and sometimes he even liked to chat. Only sometimes, though!
Regrettably, John Francis Caskenette of Tara, passed away suddenly at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener on Sunday, January 29, 2017 in his 77th year. Loving father of Bill (Tasha) Caskenette of Hepworth, John (Paula) Caskenette of Kitchener, Cathy (Tony) Caskenette of Chesley, Sheila (Steve) Lake of Elmwood, Brandon Monago and Laura Monago both of Kitchener. John will be sadly missed by his grandchildren, Christopher, Robin, Alex, Brad, Beth, Steven, Matthew, Danny, Nicholas, Justin and Thomas. He will be fondly remembered by his siblings Marg, Patrick, Elizabeth, Theresa, Michael and Debbie.
John is predeceased by granddaughter April (1990-2010), siblings Loretta (1946-2008), William (1938-1956), Eileen “Bunny” (1954–2012), former wife Joan Stephen (1946-2012) and parents Frank (1912-1996) and Isabel (1915-1987) (Wehrle) Caskenette.
A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 3 p.m.
Memorial donations to the Kidney Foundation of Canada would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
