Family/Spouse: MacDonald. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
OICKLE, John Arlington 'Arlie'

At the age of 101 years, passed away to take his place in Heaven on October 4, 2019 in Camp Hill Veterans’ Memorial Building, QEII. Born in Lower West Northfield on September 13, 1918, he was a son of the late Harlan and Edna (Bruhm) Oickle. John was predeceased by his brother, Leroy Oickle; and his youngest daughter, Anne Marie McDonald (of Breadalbane, P.E.I.). John wore so many hats in life and he wore them well! - that of devoted husband, proud and supportive father of eight children, caring grandfather, loving great-grandfather, decorated RCAF Veteran, dedicated teacher, community-minded and a most generous of spirit gentleman. John lived life to the fullest with his wife Anne by his side for over 73 years. He lived a most remarkable and honorable life. John joined the RCAF in 1941 retiring in 1963 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. John loved to fly, he learned to fly on the Tiger Moth, and he especially loved to fly the Avro Canada CF-100. As an RCAF pilot he had incredible experiences; 'Jack' (as he was known by his flying buddies) received the North Atlantic Star medal. He had a direct connection to the AVRO Arrow story in 1958 as he did some advisement on the instrumentation panel for the Arrow and he was an approved test pilot for it. A dream that was never realized, as the Diefenbaker Government chose to discontinue the Arrow. Upon retirement he moved his wife and children to Nova Scotia where he managed the Halifax Flying Club as the Chief Flying Instructor, flew as an on-call pilot for the original Air Atlantic patrolling the Transatlantic Cable between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, often accompanied by his sons. He then followed a career as an Industrial Arts/Drafting teacher at Sackville Heights Junior High for 14 years, often speaking so fondly of the students he taught in his portable drafting classroom. As a proud and conscientious citizen with strong leadership skills he believed in service to his church and community; he served in many ways that most would not be aware of. John and Anne were active members of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Fall River for over 40 years. He served the Church in many capacities as Eucharistic minister, minister of the Word, catechetical teacher and charter member of the Knights of Columbus as well as a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He received the Order of Merit from Archbishop James Hayes in 2001. He was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Dieppe Branch, Waverley. One of his great passions in life was the outdoors; camping with his kids, waterskiing with the kids on Chambly Basin, walking through the woods in Bridgewater, canoeing up the lake in Waverley, gardening and growing all sorts of berries to make his own delicious wine, and trying to keep the birds off his prized blueberry bushes. John loved to build; he was a master carpenter. He and Anne designed and built their home of 40 years on the shores of Lake William; he built a carriage house to house his workshop and a lean-to for his treasured antique tractor. He even went as far as to build a barn for the girls’ goat and horse. Dad will always be remembered as the loving Dad to call on no matter the day or the time...if the furnace wasn’t working or the car was making a strange noise; lending an ear if life was bumpy or sharing his homemade wine or delicious strawberry and rhubarb jam. He made the best oatmeal-coconut cookies without a recipe. Dad was an incredible storyteller and even in his last years he could recall in great detail, his days as a youngster driving his first car or his days flying across Canada and the United States. We will always remember his walking us out to the car after a memorable visit to wave good-bye, wearing his plaid woodsman jacket and cap. Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 11th in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Fall River at 11 a.m. with Rev. Father Michael Walsh presiding. A reception will follow in the church. Family flowers only please. A private family burial will be held in Oakridge Memorial Gardens, Middle Sackville.

John married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Harlan married Edna Bruhm. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]