January 29, 1924 to March 17, 2017
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Ken Ferguson, wonderful and loving husband, father, brother in law, cousin, friend, and psychiatrist, at age 93 of complications following a stroke. Ken was born in Guelph, the only child of Fred and Viola Ferguson. He grew up at 14 Forbes Ave, but spent summers on the family farm with his many cousins in Clifford, Ont. He attended GCVI, where he made lifelong friends. Then, to please his anxious mother, he enrolled in Engineering at the University of Toronto instead of going off to war as many of his cohorts did. However, after failing first year, he enlisted in the army and trained as a radar operator in the Halifax area instead. Somewhat to his disappointment the war concluded before he was sent overseas. He used to say the most danger he faced during the war was being hit in the head with a piece of radar equipment. After the war, on the GI bill, he was able to enroll in medical school at the University of Western Ontario where he was told by the dean that he certainly didn’t get in on the strength of his first year marks from U of T. He did his residency in psychiatry in Montreal finishing in 1958. He celebrated by purchasing a coffee grinder. It was in Montreal where he met Joyce, the love of his life. During their 61 years of marriage (until Joyce’s death last year), they raised three daughters and three dogs. The first 15 years of their marriage they lived on the grounds of the Douglas Hospital in Montreal where Ken worked as a staff psychiatrist. Ken and the family moved to Guelph in the early 70s when Ken joined the Homewood staff. Ken and Joyce eventually bought a vacation farm property in Meaford where Ken could garden on a grand scale, plant trees, swim in the pond in the summer and cross country ski in the winter. And it was where they entertained family and friends with Joyce’s fabulous cooking, often pressing home grown produce and tractor rides on their visitors. Ken and Joyce also entertained and gardened at 14 Forbes, which they had renovated and moved into after the death of Ken’s father in 1982.
Ken is predeceased by his loving wife Joyce (nee Henderson), and is survived by his three children, Anne Ferguson (Gary Ryan), Karen Ferguson (Mike Streitmatter), and Sue Ferguson (David McNally), as well as seven grandchildren, Adam, Sam, Sarah, Emma, Lauren, Liam, and Cole, and his dear sister-in-law, Velma Henderson of Burlington. The family is grateful for the loving care Ken received over the past year from our private army of caregivers, Natalina, Neela, Kim, Nadia, Millie and Janet, CCAC staff, the staff of Arbour Trails, the volunteers and staff of Hospice Wellington, as well as the medical expertise of Dr. Peter Hendrie.
Memorial services will be held at GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on March 29, 2017, at 3:00 p.m., followed by light refreshments. The family will greet friends and relatives one hour prior to the service.
Ken was a generous supporter of many charities during his lifetime. Memorial donations to Hospice Wellington, Heart and Stroke Foundation, University of Western Ontario, or any other charity of your choice, would be welcomed by the family. We invite you to leave your condolences and donations online at www.gilchristchapel.com.