BALDWIN: Michael Nash (Oct 5, 1940 – December 10, 2018) after a long struggle with melanoma, at home, peacefully, in his wife’s arms. He is survived by Colleen, his wife of 54 years, siblings Peter (Penny), Melody (Bill), and Tom (Diane), his sons John (Elizabeth) and Andrew (Sally). His heart was broken to lose his daughter Robin (Paul) in March of this year. His beloved grandchildren include Kate, Teskey, James, Mairin, Isabel, Zoe, and Paige.
Mike grew up in London and his family summered in Port Stanley, which is where he met and fell in love with Colleen. They married in 1964. Mike graduated in 1962 from the Ontario College of Art in Industrial Design, which was a perfect match for his passions of the technical and the artistic. These passions led his career in many diverse directions. He worked at Electrohome designing detached lighting, winning several awards for his designs. He taught Industrial Design at Conestoga College for a time, but his desire to create inspired him to leave the classroom. He and Colleen moved to New Dundee, into a house that he had designed. They started Second Century Furniture, where they sold custom furniture that Mike had designed and built by hand himself. Changing course yet again, they started Treen in 1980, building carved wood signs. Mike ran this business until son John took it over, and Mike was then free to pursue his other passions of building mahogany boats and later, model airplanes. As he often said, he didn’t know what he wanted to do when he grew up.
Mike lived a life full of joy, creativity, and service. He was the Charter President of the New Dundee Optimist Club in 1976, to which he belonged and served for the rest of his life. His circle of friends was vast and deep, and just how many people Mike knew never failed to surprise his children and friends. His creativity and generosity were shared with everyone, and the thousands of things he built were given freely to those he cared about. Everything Mike built was a piece of art, his attention to detail was exquisite, and his spirit will live on through everything he created.
Mike’s love of his family was also his passion, and he was fiercely devoted and committed to Colleen, his kids, and his grandchildren. He always helped and guided them – building a myriad of projects, construction and home renovations, starting businesses, flying model airplanes, and playing silly games. His curiosity about everything was infectious, and his loyalty was unfailing. His sense of humour and laughter lifted us all, and he was a teacher and inspiration in so many ways. We will miss him.
At his request, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Mike’s Life will take place at the New Dundee Community Center on Saturday January 26, 2019 from 2 – 5 p.m. Words of Remembrance will be shared at 3:30pm. Donations in memoriam can be made to Sakura House Hospice, Woodstock.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Glendinning Funeral Home, Plattsville.
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