John passed away peacefully at 1900hrs, Tuesday December 15th at St. Paul’s Hospital following complications related to a fall.  He was in the arms of his two sons, John and Michael, and his daughter-in-law, Alaura when he received the order, “Stand Easy”. He is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret Mary and his sisters, Audrey, Molly and Ginger.
John, a native Haligonian, was the son of John Leonard Redmond, a radio pioneer of the 1920s and Jane Jerusha (nee MacDonald).  From an early age he showed two great gifts, a love of literature and a love of dogs, both of which gifts he kept until the very end.  He had a great sense of humour and a wonderful, warm smile, the last of which was seen in his last hours when his son, John Donald, said the name of his pet dog from the 30s, “Bonzo”.  He know the names of all the dogs he met on his morning strolls, even if he sometimes forgot the names of their owners.
John was a soldier for 30 years and  first donned a uniform in 1936 when he joined the Saint Mary’s COTC contingent; then in 1938, after graduating with a BSc, he transferred to the Dalhousie and King’s College contingent for his one year of teacher-training.  In his university days he was known as “the Prof”, due to his scholarly air.. He was commissioned 2nd Lt, RCA, Canadian Army (Active) in 1940, serving first in his hometown, then proceeding overseas to the UK.  Returning to Canada at the end of 1941, he was employed at HQ Atlantic Command.  While there, and attending a dance at the Nova Scotian Hotel, he met, then married  the (still) beautiful Margaret Mary MacDonald in 1942.  They then moved to Ottawa and DND HQ.  He volunteered for Pacific Force in 1945, but was saved by the bomb.  John elected to remain in the Army post-war and served variously with DArty in Ottawa, St. Dunstan’s COTC in PEI (where his son, John, was born) and Staff College in Kingston.  He joined 1 RCHA in late 1951 (C Bty, then A Bty) and proceeded to Korea in 1952, where he puzzled the Chinese People’s Liberation Army by firing red, white and blue smoke on their positions upon hearing news of the birth of his second son, Mike.   Upon returning to Canada in 1953, he served in Winnipeg  (HQ Prairie Command), Ottawa (DND Weapons Development, where he became senior Cdn. officer at the Maralinga atomic weapons trials), Washington DC (Cdn Army Staff HQ , GSO II), Fort Churchill (GSO II) and finally Vancouver (HQ BC Area, GSO II), where he retired from the Army with the rank of major in 1966.
John then taught at Hugh Boyd and Richmond High, retiring for the final time in 1982.  He was once described by a retired general as “one of the few true gentlemen in the Canadian Army.”  In retirement, he kept busy with gardening, cross-word puzzles, and enjoying the company (and Mrs. Lum’s cooking) of his messmates of 15 Field Regiment (RCA), but, most of all, being with his dear wife and being visited by his family.
John’s departure began unexpectedly after celebrating his 67th wedding anniversary, when he fell and broke his hip.  That led to a series of other problems and tragedies that culminated in his leaving us.  However, his spirit is still with us, and we know that he is happy in the arms of our Lord.
He was a kindly man, a loving father and a devoted husband whose passing is deeply mourned.
Prayers will be offered at 7 pm Monday, Dec 21 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 5457 Trafalgar where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Tuesday, Dec. 22, Very Rev Mark Hagemoen celebrant.  Entombment will follow at Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery, Surrey.