TimminsToday has received the following notice from McGuinty Funeral Home in North Bay about noted historian, author and speaker, Lorne Fleece.
Throughout his life, Lorne was a true lover and promoter of Northern Ontario. During his 39 years of service with the Ontario Northland Railway he worked as a linesman, equipment maintainer, and maintenance foreman. In 1979, he was the coordinator of the Cochrane Polar Bear Express, a popular tourist trip to Moosonee, during which he regaled passengers with stories of the Abitibi Frontier and James Bay. History of the De Troyes was brought to life in Cochrane from 1978 - 1984 when he and Rita employed local students to re-enact the landing of French explorers in Northern Ontario. In 1986, just prior to his retirement, he returned to North Bay to open the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission Archives as its first archivist.
Lorne was involved in his community wherever he lived. He was a proud and active member of the Knights of Columbus for 45 years, in more recent years as a Fourth Degree Knight in the Albanel Assembly. He was active with the Morse Telegraphy Club, Bell Pioneers, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the North American Fur Trade Conferences, Scouts Canada, Model Railway Clubs as well as the Ontario Museum Association. He was frequently called upon to provide historical research and consulted on many books and was himself a published author. He was featured on both radio and television programs and was a sought after speaker. His greatest accomplishment though, and how his children will remember him best, was as a devoted and loving caregiver to our mother in her final years.
The family will receive visitors at the McGuinty Funeral Home (North Bay) on Tuesday January 13, 2015 from 2pm-4pm and 7pm -9pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter the Apostle Church on Wednesday January 14, 2015 at 10:30am. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery will follow. If desired, donations to the Discovery North Bay Museum www.discoverynorthbay.com would be gratefully acknowledged. Online condolences may be made at www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com
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