William John Webb

John’s legacy will be his enduring devotion and loyalty to his family, his wife Jiiva Somerville, son David Webb, daughter-in-law Charlotte Webb and two young grandsons, Samuel and Thomas. His deepest sadness throughout his three-year challenge of living with cancer was his loss of all his beautiful boys. His greatest joy in life was their presence.

John was born in Barrie, Ontario, however he always considered Niagara Falls his hometown. He moved to that area with his parents, Cecil John Webb 1911-2001 and Anne Stewart 1916-2012 and his sisters, Karen (Glenn Roche) and Heather (Dave Smith) in the late 1950s.

School years in Niagara Falls were followed by a career in banking. After leaving banking John pursued an avocation, renovating old houses and building new ones for clients, often with his brother-in-law Chuck Somerville (Ann). Another avocation, rebuilding his old cars, kept the garages filled and his hands busy. Closer to retiring John drove a school bus so he could enjoy the same schedule as Jiiva, then a teacher. Family history research was a shared hobby and he patiently told many stories of Webb and Stewart ancestors, tracing their lives back to Grey County, McMurrich and Ryerson Twps, Crown Hill, Innisfil, Scotland, Ireland, England and Germany.

During ‘retirement’ John and Jiiva packed their motorcycles into a Fifth Wheel RV and traveled North America for a couple of years. His brother-in-law Dan Somerville (Adele) sharing in some of the motorcycle adventures. Always one to have a project on the go, John co-designed and worked as general contractor for his new build of the family cottage on Big Doe Lake. Summers were spent at the Lake with extended family; [niece] Michelle and Richard Koson and their four children; [niece] Andrea and Dan Crabbe; [niece] Jennifer and Alex Beland; [niece] Shawna and Trevor Van Eerde; [niece] Alison and Adam King; cousins and close friends. Winters in the sunny south brought a whole new community into his life. Also survived by his brother-in-law Richard Somerville (Lei).

With his children settled in Barrie and his final days spent at Hospice Simcoe, John’s life came full circle, back to his birthplace, before his eventual passing on the 15th of March 2025.

Interment at St. Paul’s Anglican Cemetery, Innisfil, 11:00 AM on Saturday May 10th, 2025. Informal gathering for those who wish to join us. In the absence of a formal service, anyone wishing to briefly express their own sentiments is welcome to do so. Immediately following interment, a Celebration of Life with food, music and stories will be held at at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147, 410 St. Vincent Street, Barrie. Parking lot entrance off Ferris Lane.

The reassuring care and comfort John and his family received at Hospice Simcoe in Barrie have inspired donations. Donations can be made online at www.canadahelps.ca