KNOWLES, Ian Thomas Knowles - 21-May-1946 - 26-Aug-2024

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ian Thomas Knowles at Lakeridge Health Oshawa on August 26th, 2024, at the age of 78. His final days were spent surrounded by family and his sudden loss comes as a tremendous shock to us all.
Ian was born May 21st, 1946, to Earl and Helen Knowles (nee Duffin) in Toronto, Ontario. He took great pride in being the first grandson, enjoying many summers in his youth along the Bay Chaleur in Bathurst, New Brunswick with his family, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Ian was an avid traveler and enjoyed taking road trips across Canada and the USA. It was on one of these trips where he met his wife Gloria Breiwick of Minneapolis, Minnesota on spring break in Daytona, Florida. After five years of navigating a long-distance romance in a time before the internet, they enjoyed 49 wonderful years together in marriage and raised their children Heather and Matthew.
Ian was a wiz with numbers which lead to 24 years with CIBC in the headquarters I.T. Data Center. He took on the role of a stay-at-home dad during the kids’ teenage years which gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion for umpiring baseball and softball in the local leagues for 20 years. Ian had a real love for sports and enjoyed playing hockey, bowling, and curling. Football was his favorite spectator sport, and he participated in various fantasy leagues throughout the years. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a knack for trivia, puzzles, and word games, and was an enthusiastic reader with a wonderfully diverse collection of books.

Ian was devoted to serving his community and dedicated his time to the Kinsmen and Kinette Club of Pickering where he wore many hats as president, treasurer, and Santa Clause parade organizer. He was involved as a Beaver and Cub leader for the 6th Pickering Scouts Group while Matthew was a member. Ian loved lobster rolls and considered being left-handed his superpower. He originated the “out-laws club” with Gloria’s side of the family and being birthday buddies with his aunt Mabel and daughter-in-law Lacey. His favorite saying was “if it hurts, don’t do it”, especially to Heather.

Ian was preceded by his parents, Earl and Helen, brother Allan, and sister-in-law Barb. He is survived by his wife Gloria, children Heather and Matthew, daughter-in-law Lacey, brother Dennis, and sisters-in-law Laura and Wendy. He was an amazing son, brother, husband, and father. Ian cherished his family and friends, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Our family would appreciate any memories you would like to share of him and consider a donation to the Purple Heart Project for wounded veterans.

Celebrations of life will be held in Pickering, Ontario and in Minneapolis, Minnesota with dates to be announced.