Remembering
The Life of a Simple Man
by John McMillan

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John McMillan shares his life story with sincere honesty - every humourous and heartbreaking moment. He was raised on a small farm in southwestern Quebec, the only son of a fourth-generation farmer. His early memories include details, anecdotes, and experiences of family and farm life in the 1950s, including games, holiday activities, and social interactions associated with rural living. Entering his teenage years, his coming-of-age stories detail his awkwardness and amusing dating experiences. Deciding to forego becoming a farmer, John graduates from university with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. As an eighteen-year-old, a chance encounter changes his life forever when he meets a sixteen-year-old girl with an infectious smile, Kathryn Magnussen. Stories of their courtship and subsequent marriage illustrate his struggle to come to terms with falling in love and validating her compatibility as a potential wife, often resulting in funny or embarrassing situations. Adjusting to married life and starting a family provides a profoundly personal, often comical look into love, relationships, and fatherhood. As their family grows, their interests expand, introducing a new dynamic. Dog training, quilting, and auction attendance are hobbies that provide amusing anecdotes and lively discussions between husband and wife. As the couple plans for retirement, they embark on a series of home renovations. The first results in mayhem, reminiscent of a comedy routine, including a plumber falling through the ceiling into the dining room and a worker taking progress payments and disappearing to Europe. John describes the effects of job demotions and company reorganizations on family life, and as retirement draws near, he is confronted with the unexpected, devastating loss of his wife. His memories provide a window into his exploits and escapades as he navigates the roller coaster ride of life, from the amusing and entertaining to the more serious and deeply moving.

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John was born and raised on a small dairy farm in Franklin Centre, Quebec. He attended Sir George Williams University in Montreal and received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1971. John joined an international engineering company, Combustion Engineering, as a Junior Engineer in Training on a six-month probationary period. He married, raised two sons, and stayed with the same company for over 45 years. He was the Director of Engineering when he left the company in 2016. He now resides in retirement in Manotick, Ontario and has written an article, "The McMillans of Franklin," published in the 2025 annual journal of the Chateauguay Valley Historical Society.

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John McMillan