James Kenneth 'Ken' Creelman

Ken’s children sadly announce his death at Ridgewood Veterans Health Wing, Saint John, NB, on May 28, 2021, but we and all whom he touched will fondly remember his zest for life and sincere interest in and fascination with everyone and everything.

The family remembers him always being there. He was the chauffeur and easy-going listener. He had the quite remarkable ability to fix anything we kids could break. We have great memories from our backyard rink that Dad patiently flooded in all winter conditions. Summers were spent at the family cottage at Long Reach, where we all enjoyed his quick wit, unique laugh, homemade swings, and ball games in the field.

Others knew him through his participation in many volunteer organizations, such as the Saint John Association for Community Living (then known as CAMR), where he served as president of the Saint John Branch for several years. He helped at Special Olympics, and later volunteered at weekly bowling. He assisted the Telephone Pioneers club by repairing Talking Book Machines for the CNIB.  He organized tennis clubs in Rothesay and Saint John, where he was actively involved in arranging tournaments.  He was also active with the Saint John Unitarian Fellowship. 

Others may have met him hiking Spyglass Hill, flying his kite at the beach, through a local Ham Radio Club (and he built his own stereo equipment) or perhaps when he took you for a sail onboard his boat, Possum II. He read widely, following a keen lifelong curiosity. He curled and skied in his younger life and in mid-life became an obsessed tennis player and organized many tournaments. 

Ken was the son of the late Alice (McCallum) and Jotham Creelman of Truro, NS. He will be missed by sons David of Toronto, Paul and his wife Roxanne of Beaver Bank, NS, Andrew and his wife Patty of Rothesay, NB, and daughter Jane Matheson and her husband Bill of West Dover, NS, and by six grandchildren: Rachel and Michael Creelman, Ian and Neil Matheson and Abbey and Shawn (Hilary) Creelman. He hadn’t yet met young great-grandson, Angus Creelman. He will also be missed by friends young and not so young, especially dear friend, Lulu Guravich. Ken was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 48 years, ‘Fran’, Frances D. (Crowe) Creelman, in 2001 and son Tim, beloved companion for many years, who died in 2011.

Ken graduated from Colchester County Academy in Truro and served overseas with the RCAF during World War II. After the war he attended the UNB in Fredericton, graduating with a BSc in Electrical Engineering. He was employed with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Sackville, Halifax (where he met and married Fran), and Montreal before coming to Saint John with NBTel (now Bell Aliant), where he was in the Engineering Department for 33 years. He was a life member of the Association of Professional Engineers of New Brunswick. Ken was a long-time resident of Champlain Heights, Saint John, then Kennebecasis Park, Rothesay.

Thanks to those who helped him at home, then at Chateau Champlain and Ridgewood. He loved you all.

Cremation took place May 31, 2021. A celebration of Ken’s well lived life will be held at a later date when COVID restrictions are lifted. Condolences can be left at fundyfuneralhome.com/obituary. Donations can be made to New Brunswick Association for Community Living, Special Olympics New Brunswick or a charity of your choosing.