Lloyd A. Swick, MSM, CD, BSc, PPCLI, WWII and Korean War Veteran

Ottawa, ON. At home, surrounded by his family, Lloyd Allan Swick passed away on January 14, 2017, at the age of 94. He is predeceased by his cherished wife, Doris (née Reid), and dear grandson Bryan Swick Turner (Katherine Rodrigues), and survived by five loving daughters: Lana (Gary Davis), Gwen (Randall Coryell), Alison (Michael Turner), Patricia (Tim Fuller) and Brenda; grandchildren Nathan (Candace), Anthony (Amy) and Gregory (Heather) Davis, Ana Swick-Coryell, Evelyn Turner, Maddie and Bobbie Martin; and five great-grandchildren.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, MB, Lloyd was the son of Alexander and Emma Swick, and brother to his beloved sisters Eileen and Audrey.

During the Second World War, Lloyd Swick was an officer in the Calgary Highlanders. He served in action as a platoon commander, company second-in-command, and company commander as his unit moved from Normandy, through the Channel Ports and Belgium and into the Netherlands. He took part in the liberation of many Dutch cities and villages, including Xanten, Ulft, Doetinchem, Apeldoorn, Nunspeet and Groningen.

After the war, he completed a BSc at the University of Manitoba. Like the other veterans studying and starting young families, he and Doris, his soul mate and bright light, lived in the veterans’ area on the campus. Many years later Lloyd gathered recollections about these times and published Stories from Veterans Village.

Upon graduation, he re-enrolled in the Army, joining the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He became a paratrooper and commanded a company in Korea with the 1st Battalion. In his career with the PPCLI, he was stationed across Canada and served in Haiti, and in India and Pakistan as a United Nations Observer. His service in Korea gave him another level of insight into the hardships of life for many. Later he wrote a beautiful poem emblematic of the love he felt for the Korean people and his hope for the children.

At the end of his military career, he entered the public service—National Defence, Environment Canada and Emergency Preparedness.

Lloyd’s industriousness did not end with retirement. In 2002, he was selected to welcome Princess Margriet of the Netherlands when she visited Ottawa, her birthplace. He was awarded a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in 2005 for his work, particularly with the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre. Lloyd was selected as a representative of the veterans of the Liberation of the Netherlands to participate as a member of the Veterans Affairs Canada delegations, which visited the Netherlands in May of 2005 and 2015.

Lloyd was a devoted husband to the love of his life, Doris. They laughed and travelled, appreciated their family and the wonder of each other and everything around them—complementary and a perfect match. Lloyd was an inspiring, loving and energetic father to his girls. He was playful and encouraging—a vivid guide to life. Lloyd played the piano daily. He and Doris loved music and passed this passion on to their daughters. There were countless family excursions—camping in the Rockies and on the prairies, coast-to-coast vacations. Lloyd and Doris loved Canada. They taught their girls about cross-country and downhill skiing, skating, playing tennis, baseball and football, swimming and canoeing, and, above all, the value of a good education. Lloyd was a golfer and coaxed his family to join him. He remained a kayaker at 92. Lloyd made forays into woodworking, uncommon home renovations, nuts-and-bolts figurines, topiary—very few activities were outside the realm of Lloyd’s interests. He was a lifelong learner, keen to pull others in.

Dream big, and do it now! Lloyd lived vivaciously and loved people dearly, something evident to all who knew him. Throughout his life, Lloyd radiated joy and optimism to anyone in his sphere.

He was unrestrained, bold, and gracious in his enthusiasm for helping people, taking great delight in singing and playing the piano at seniors’ residences, speaking to schoolchildren and Cadet Corps, devising plans to help organizations whose goals appealed to him, canvassing for medical research, assisting individuals with challenges, and providing pianos for community centres. Lloyd’s attitude was, “How can I help?”

In recent years he was captivated by the idea of a Canadian monument to honour animals in war. He spearheaded a campaign to create such a memorial, and the Animals in War Dedication monument in Ottawa’s Confederation Park was unveiled on Nov. 2, 2012.

Lloyd received many military and civilian awards, including the France and Germany Star, Canadian Korea Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Meritorious Service Award; however, nothing was more valuable to him than the love of and for his family and friends.

A Memorial Service in Lloyd's honour will be held at Beechwood Cemetery on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at 2 p.m.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services, The Ottawa Mission, or a charity of choice.