June 23, 1923 – November 5, 2007

Wilbur “Wib” Edison Archer died at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital on November 5, 2007.

He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Lorraine Brooks and sisters Audrey Dean, Grace Ogilvie and Laura Burt. He is survived by his children Judy Archer (Jim Mills), Cindy Brazier (Robert), John Archer (Carol) and Mary Butt (Darren), all of Bracebridge, and Jenny Treloar (Tim) of Innisfil; by his grandchildren Sara and Ryan Fountain, Kim and Kelly Brazier, Julie and Adam Archer, Melissa Butt and Jacob Treloar; by brother Norman Archer of Bracebridge and sister Gladys McLeod of Calgary.

A funeral service took place at the United Church in Bracebridge November 10, 2007.

Wib was born on June 23, 1923 in Bracebridge to Charles Wesley Archer of Bracebridge and Frances Jane Stewart of Lucknow. He grew up on Browning Island on Lake Muskoka and attended the one-room school on the island and then went to school in Bracebridge. He served in the Air Force during the Second World War.

Wib and Helen were married on May 14, 1949 in Bracebridge and made their home on Browning Island.

He owned and operated Archer’s Marina and Archer’s Barging, the second generation to do so. He was a Bracebridge Rotarian for over 30 years.

Wib served on the board of education for Muskoka Township and then for the Muskoka Board of Education. He was chairman of the board for a couple of years.

A pillar of the community, Wib spent countless hours building sets for Rotary plays, selling Christmas trees and tickets on cars to raise money for Rotary. He always looked forward to Friday lunches. A special thanks to Doug and Bob who took the time to make sure he was taken to Rotary lunch these last few years.

Wib and Helen went to Barbados over 20 times for their winter vacations, making many new friends from far and wide. Some would visit them at their summer home on Browning Island.

After Wib retired he spent many hours doing woodworking, making furniture for Helen, his children and grandchildren: kitchen tables, bookshelves and chests for his girls for storing knitting wool. His first great-grandchild will be rocked in a rocking chair he made.

Wib had many summer friends that he came to know through the marina. These friends knew they could call on him at any time, to get them to the government dock to meet the ambulance, shovel their roof in the winter, help pull up a boat that had sunk from too much rain or get someone across the lake when it was too rough for them to get themselves across.

Wib always put Helen and his children first and loved family time, like having 25 (grandchildren and their friends) around the Christmas dinner table or riding in his son John’s speedboat, swimming with his grandchildren or having lengthy conversations with his only brother Norman.

Wib left his mark in more ways than one and when you stop and think of him you will remember him at the place he loved most, Browning Island.

We are going to miss you Dad!