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Ronald Neil
September 15, 1938 - November 16, 2013
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<div itemprop="description">Ronald (Ron) William Neil <br /> <br />September 15, 1938 &ndash; November 16, 2013 <br /> <br />Ron is finally free after his valiant battle with Lewy Body dementia. He passed away at Arrowsmith Lodge, Parksville, BC, with his loving wife Joan at his side. Ron is survived by daughters Laurel Laturnus (Bill), Cheryl Palm (Doug), son Lorne (Carolyn) and six grandchildren Liam, Cameron, Rebecca, Alex, Trevor and Cora, sister Maxine Martin and brother Larry (Anne), also nieces and nephews. <br /> <br />In lieu of flowers donations to the Alzheimers Society of BC will be gratefully accepted. Please visit www.alzheimersbc.org <br />Ron&rsquo;s family extends their appreciation and grateful thanks to Dr. Carey Sulz and the staff at Arrowsmith Lodge for their wonderful care. <br />A celebration of life will be held at Uplands Golf Club, 3400 Cadboro Bay Road, Victoria on January 4, 2014 from 2 -4pm. <br /> <br />Those who knew Ron were fortunate to experience how he touched their lives; his kindness and open-mindedness was profound. Ron possessed a rare quality; a sincere and genuine love of people and this was shown in his gentle manner and interest in others. He was a man of character. He treated everyone with respect and was considered by many as a mentor. He devoted countless hours helping people in need by listening and giving valuable guidance and advice. <br /> <br />Ron was born in Victoria on September 15, 1938 and lived in Sooke throughout his early years. His father, Bill Neil, owned several logging trucks. Ron was always at his father&rsquo;s side handing him tools to change the tires or assisting with mechanical work. Ron drove logging trucks during the summers when he was attending university. His family moved to Quadra Island where he lived on a float house and nurtured his love of our natural resources. At ten years of age Ron enjoyed going out alone in his small boat to catch fish. He attended a one-room school house until grade eight when his family moved to View Royal in Victoria, where he attended Esquimalt High school serving on the student council. He attended Camosun College for one year and then went on to UBC where he graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 1962. With his passion for life-longing learning and maximizing his professional contribution Ron completed many courses related to the lumber industry. He completed the majority of courses for an accounting degree and also attended Harvard Business School where he received a Diploma in Business. His career in the forest industry spanned 45 years. In 1962, he began as a trainee and assistant to the manager for MacMillan Bloedel in Port Alberni. He rose to the position of Senior Vice-President for Fletcher Challenge Canada. Ron worked for many other large forest companies in a management capacity. During his career, he was always dedicated to each employer. Ron&rsquo;s final ten years of employment was with Mitsui Home Canada where he purchased property in Langley and built a remanufacturing mill. He became manager of the operation and continued to serve as a director and advisor for a number of years after his retirement. He was always willing to spend time with his employees either out in the mill or in the office, talking with them after hours, listening to their issues and giving sound advice. Many colleagues have remarked that Ron was a motivational and inspiring leader. His work often involved travel with visits to China, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Germany, France, New Zealand, Switzerland and the US. <br /> <br />Being philanthropic and giving back to his community was important to Ron. He served on an advisory board to the Premier of BC. He was Chairman and Director of Forintek (a forest research group at UBC) and Finance Chairman and Director of the Council of Forest Industries. Ron also served as a Director for BC Wood and as a Director of St. Vincent&rsquo;s Hospital in Vancouver. His volunteer work was endless; he consolidated the Vancouver area summer swimming programs and organized the Vancouver Vikings swim club as president while his children were involved in competitive summer swimming. He also served as Treasurer for BC Summer Swimming Association. Ron raised thousands of dollars for the United Way and generously gave blood for twenty-five years to the Canadian Red Cross. <br /> <br />Ron and Joan were married January 5th, 1963. They shared over 50 wonderful years together. As high school sweethearts, they met at a basketball game in 1955. Together they raised three loving, successful children. Ron&rsquo;s greatest pleasure was spending time with them. As a father, Ron was a dedicated, hands-on dad. He was very involved in his children&rsquo;s lives, from helping with homework, to taking them skiing and attending swim meets. Ron and Joan loved travelling to Austria, Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands, Mexico, Hawaii, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and mainland US. They had many happy years enjoying time together, bike riding, running, walking, socializing with friends and spending time with their grandchildren. <br /> <br />Ron lived an extremely healthy active life style and had a passion for exercise. He was an avid cyclist. He made three cycling trips to Europe with his Le Peloton friends, travelling many parts of the Tour de France route. One trip he rode from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean through the Pyrenees Mountains. Whether training or just riding for fun he would cycle with his pals up the three North Shore mountains after which they would enjoy coffee, share some jokes and a few good laughs together. He enjoyed running for a number of years and completing many triathlons and half marathons. After moving to Vancouver Island, Ron rode with the Craig Bay Boys for a short time. Unfortunately Lewy Body dementia caught up with him and prevented him from enjoying what he loved most. The disease has no compassion and took a wonderful man. He is now on a long ride up the mountains he loved, wind at his back, embracing freedom. Take comfort and treasure your memories of Ron as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, colleague, friend, mentor and humanitarian. <br /> <br />To Those I Love and Those That Love Me <br /> <br />When I am gone, release me, let me go <br />I have so many things to see and do. <br />You mustn&rsquo;t tie yourself to me with tears, <br />Be happy that we had so many years. <br />I gave you my love, you can only guess <br />How much you gave me in happiness. <br />Thank you for the love you have each shown. <br />But now it&rsquo;s time I travelled alone. <br />So grieve a while if grieve you must. <br />Then let your grief be comforted by trust. <br />It&rsquo;s only for a while that we must part <br />So bless the memories within your heart <br />I won&rsquo;t be far away, for life goes on. <br />So if you need me, call and I will come. <br />Though you can&rsquo;t see or touch me, I&rsquo;ll be near. <br />And listen with your heart, you&rsquo;ll hear <br />All of my love around you soft and clear. <br />And then, when you must come this way alone, <br />I&rsquo;ll greet you with a smile and say <br />&lsquo;Welcome Home&rsquo; <br /></div>