Ian Thackwray, former owner of Orangeville Home Hardware, died Thursday, June 24, at his home in Port Dover. He succumbed to cancer, after a year long battle, surrounded by family.

Born on June 5, 1942, in Leeds, England, to the late Ralph and Maisie Thackwray, he moved to Cobourg in 1952. He enjoyed a great business career with Coleco, Home Hardware, and as and independent entrepreneur with Ian Thackwray International, a Canadian exporter based in Panama.

Ian was proud of his senatorship 20406 in the Canadian Junior Chamber of Commerce, and was the inaugural president of the Orangeville Kiwanis Club.

Ian was also an active member of St. Mark’s Anglican Church and of the choir, and was one of the original members and participants of the St. Mark’s Choral Society, now known as Orangeville Music Theatre.

He was the much loved husband for 47 years of the Rev. Canon Mary Lynne (nee Dyce) and father of Jennifer Lynne Thackwray (London, Ont.), Ian Peter Dyce Thackwray (Joanna) (Richmond, B.C.), Jillian Patrician McKay (Kevin), Oakville, Ont., Johanna Denise Parker (Charlie) (Guelph, Ont.). He was the papa of Madison and Samantha Vine, Taylor, Jackson and Kya Thackwray, Reilly, Connor and Joshua McKay, and Richard and sibling Parker.