Obituary of IAN CAMPBELL THOMSON

 IAN CAMPBELL THOMSON

Peacefully on May 13, 2018, Ian Campbell Thomson, age 95, of Winnipeg, MB, passed away at the Deer Lodge Centre.

Ian was born in Winnipeg on December 31, 1922 to James and Mary (m.s. Campbell) Thomson. He was raised in Elmwood and attended Lord Selkirk School and Isaac Newton High School. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in June 1941. He received his RCAF wings and qualified to fly a four-engine Halifax bomber in WWII. As a proud member of 427 Squadron (Lion), out of Leeming, Yorkshire, he flew 44 bombing missions over enemy territory. He earned the nickname “Lucky” because his aircraft was “holed” by flak many times but always returned safely.

 After the war he joined the Winnipeg Fire Department where he served 38 years as a firefighter and fire prevention officer. Ian was a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian legion, Wartime Pilots Association, Masons, St. Andrew’s Society and the Burns Club.

He married Carley Souchereau on October 5, 1974, in Winnipeg. He considered Carley’s children as his own. Ian is survived by Carley, and her children Carol-Anna and David Souchereau, and grandchild Kelsey Souchereau Yakowchuk. He is also survived by his son Ian Robert (Leah Janzen) Thomson and grandchildren Ian A. “Alec” and Vanessa L. Thomson. 

A Service will be held on Friday, May 18, at 1:00 PM at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street.

The family wish to express their thanks to the staff of Tower 4 at the Deer Lodge Centre for their thoughtful, dedicated and compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4G2.

High Flight

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of – Wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air…

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark or even eagle flew –

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.