Humble veteran, who spent decades helping others, dies of COVID

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This article was published 03/12/2020 (2006 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Second World War veteran who spent decades giving back to his community of Transcona and whose name graces a Winnipeg street, has died from COVID-19.

John Cochrane, 94, died at the Park Manor Care home on Nov. 27, after moving there in early March, just before pandemic cases began to be reported in Manitoba.

Cochrane is remembered as a man who was always willing to help out his neighbours in Transcona, where he’d lived since age 16, said his daughter Laurie Chudley.

“I remember being walked home in a wheelbarrow from someplace where he had helped pour the basement in somebody’s house. There’s lots of great memories of him,” said Chudley.

She said her father was proud to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944 to 1946.

“He was a little prairie guy steering this big huge ship. It was just amazing,” said Chudley.

The city recently acknowledged him by giving a section of Ravelston Avenue West, between Hoka and Madeline streets, the honorary title of John Cochrane Way. That additional name will be in place for five years.

Transcona Coun. Shawn Nason presented a plaque to Cochrane to note the honour in September.

Nason said Cochrane played an important role in his community, after moving to Transcona from Saskatchewan in 1943.

“He raised his children in Transcona. After he came back from the war, he worked in Transcona at the CN shops. He’s been in the community since he was (a teenager),” he said. “He’s one of those people who had given back to the community over so many years. He was very present in the faith community and it is a loss.”

A family obituary notes Cochrane volunteered at the Pirates Community Club, delivered Meals on Wheels and served as a “Sunday school superintendent.”

“He was a humble person. He loved life, he loved his family, he loved the community,” said Shirley Gibb, Cochrane’s daughter.

The family said the pandemic at many points prevented relatives from being able to visit Cochrane, who had three children, 10 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Chudley said while she understands the need to tightly control access to care homes due to COVID-19, it was difficult to not be able to visit her dad whenever rising case numbers cut off access.

“He lived a good life. To not be with his immediate family was very sad. And for all of our kids and grandkids, that they couldn’t go and see him, that was really, really hard,” she said.

The family stressed they feel grateful for the care Cochrane received and noted Gibb was allowed an end-of-life visit with her father.

Amid the recent surge in pandemic deaths, Gibb said Manitobans need to remember the death toll represents people and families, not just a number. She urged everyone to keep following health orders to try to reduce the spread of the virus.

“All you have to do is stay home… You’ve got to be compassionate and think of others. That’s the way it’s going to get better,” she said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga