Thanks Big John

He touched so many lives in his nearly 80 years among us.
John Sirman has as long as I can remember been a pinnacle of what it means to be part of the community.
I remember being a young rink rat, 15 to be exact, and him taking me under his wing, along with so many other rink rats (I wonder just how many he taught). John always encouraged us to give 110% to the Recreation Centre and the community.
He would push you a little harder every event but would always take all us rats after the event and give us a pep talk on how well we did. Sometimes he would even reward us with a party at his house.
As a young man returning to Rainy River to work at the paper I remember him welcoming me back and again nudging me towards community service. It was not long and I joined the very Rec. Board that he spent almost four decades involved with.
We spent many Thursday evening happy hours at the Spooner Saloon in East Baudette talking about where Rainy River was going and what needed to be done next.
He never stopped being a booster of Rainy River and right up until he became sick, he worked on the Railway Museum.
Thanks John for all you taught me and all you gave Rainy River. We will miss you.
–Until then, Ken