- words spoken at the funeral of Wayne Milner today, by the Rev. David Shearman

The Love which created us, the Love which redeems us, and the Love which sustains us is present with us now.

Friends, we gather to give thanks for the rich and full life of Wayne Milner. We acknowledge we gather in grief.

We gather with heavy hearts, knowing that someone near and dear is no longer with us.

We gather to draw comfort from each other, knowing that in this moment we are comforted, as a mother comforts her children.

May we receive from each other the gifts of comfort, peace, and hope. May we find in these moments the grace which will enable us to say goodbye.

I am often called to speak at services where I may not have known the person we are remembering. Such was the case when I was called earlier this week. I did not know Wayne as many of you did, however, when he was described in the Sun Times after his death, I said “I know who that is.” As, I suspect, did many others.

I have learned and can tell you now that Wayne was born on February 1, 1960 in Walkerton, Ontario, and passed away at his residence in early January, 2023. That would suggest his age was just shy of 63.

A Crown Ward as a child, he lived with numerous families. He had been married but had no children. He attended college and worked for many years as a machinist.

Wayne began living on and off as unhoused in 1999 when he first lost his living arrangement. A series of short term living arrangements were punctuated with living outdoors over the next ten years.

In 2009 he moved into the woods outside of Owen Sound and from that time forward preferred to ride his bike and live just off the Rail Trail.

Wayne was well known to many community members as being friendly and interested in chatting and catching up on the latest stories. He loved animals, which was his connection point for many people walking on the trail, especially those with dogs.

Those who knew Wayne were touched by him. He was recognizable in the city for his bicycle carrying his possessions, his beard and his preference for wearing heavy clothing. Wayne was well known to the staff of many community agencies.

Wayne suffered serious health problems, especially from frostbite. To all those who helped with his medical needs throughout his life, you gave him dignity and cared for him to the best of your ability. Thank you.

One of the community workers who knew him shared these words:

Wayne was deeply connected with animals in the wild. He would often know what type of day he was going to have based on which animal said good morning to him when he got out of his tent in the morning. His relationship with Mother Nature was profound.

Wayne knew every spot in town that you could get a cup of coffee for free and who had sales what days on which items! He loved chatting and could be quite the social butterfly. Wayne loved his birthday and would start reminding me several weeks before that it was coming up so I’d buy him some Black Forest Cake. 

I always felt that Wayne was one of the first folks that taught us about working together agency wise so beautifully, to care for such a wonderful unique human being in our community. 

We worked with him where he was at. He loved living out of doors. He felt free and safe there. He would come indoors for three months if it was a particularly cold winter and then return to his happy places in spring.

It really was wonderful how so many people respected his choices. He was well known and liked throughout the community and had many people keeping an eye out for him. He will be so missed.

Wayne will be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery, where he will be among the birds and small animals he so loved. In his death, this community has said, “You are one of us.”

Rest in peace, Wayne.

We offer thanks for Wayne Milner who was near and dear to those gathered here, and who now has died.

We offer thanks for the friendship he gave and for the community he brought.

We offer thanks for the love he offered and received while he was with us here.

We trust that nothing good in the life of this man will be lost, but will be of benefit to the world; that all that was important to him will be respected by those who follow, and that everything he valued will continue to mean much to us now that he has died.

We trust that he may live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, inspiring courage, informing conscience.

We hope that those who were close to Wayne may now, because of this death, be even closer to one another.

For the life of Wayne Milner and for our memories we are thankful this day.

We commit Wayne’s body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

May the Creator bless him.

May the Creator shine upon him and be gracious to him.

May the Creator look upon him with kindness and give him peace.

And now, to you gathered here,

May the deep peace of the running water always come to you.

May the deep peace of the flowing air always surround you.

May the deep peace of the shining stars always light your way.

May the deep peace of the quiet earth  guide you and sustain you all the days of your life. Until we meet again.

Go in peace.

The funeral can be seen here on the Brown Family Funeral page, beginning at minute 16:00