Sergeant (Ret’d), Royal Canadian Air Force

Stephen Clark Lidster (Steve) of Iroquois, Ontario passed away suddenly, surrounded by family, at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus after a battle with cancer, on the evening of March 1, 2019, in his 72nd year. He was loved and treasured by his wife Deborah Jill (Hamilton) Lidster, his daughter Jennifer Rae Lidster Burke, his son-in-law Matthew Burke, his grandchildren, Caitlyn and Liam, and numerous nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Malcolm and Lorna (Keegan) Lidster, his sister Elizabeth, and his sister Karen (Lidster) Wilson and her husband, Gerry Wilson.
Steve had a distinguished career in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he achieved the rank of sergeant, served as a United Nations peacekeeper, and had the opportunity to travel the world with Deb at his side. In Canada, he served on numerous Canadian Forces Bases in Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Alberta.
Through the years, Steve enjoyed fishing and downhill skiing, and playing cards and cribbage at the Iroquois Royal Canadian Legion, but his most-loved pastime was golf. He was a member of the Iroquois Golf Club for a number of years, sometimes playing multiple games a day.
His family was the most important thing in his life. After meeting each other on a blind date and falling in love, he and Deb would have celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year. He loved being “Papa” for his two grandchildren and taking them for rides in his golf cart. Jenn credits her love of storytelling to the stories Steve loved to share of his lifetime of adventures (and occasional misadventures!).
Thank you to the staff of the Winchester Hospital for all of your support, these past few months in particular.
A private military graveside service will be held at Beechwood Cemetery on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
Donations in memory of Steve may be made to the Winchester Hospital or the Canadian Cancer Society.