John Meen
March 19, 1931 - December 20, 2014
As published in the January 5, 2015 World-Spectator
John Cyril Meen was born on March 19, 1931 on the farm in the Rosedale district.
The family moved to Moosomin, where he graduated from high school in 1950.
He worked at the World-Spectator until 1954, left to become editor of the Renfrew, Ontario, Mercury, then returned to the World-Spectator with his wife Joan in 1960.
He was named editor in 1966, and purchased the newspaper in 1972.
From 1966 until he sold the newspaper January 1, 1991, the World-Spectator won over 30 awards for excellence; four of them were national awards and the rest provincial. This included 12 awards for editorial writing.
In January of 1980, he and his newspaper were featured in a two-page story in the "This Canada" series in Maclean’s Magazine.
In 1991, he was given an honorary life membership in the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association.
John pioneered the switch from lead-type linotype machines to computerized typesetting in Saskatchewan in the 1970s, before even the dailies modernized.
He sold the paper Jan. 1, 1991 to Bruce Penton, who had served as editor since 1982.
Always deeply involved in his community, John spent 15 years as secretary of the Moosomin Chamber of Commerce, 10 years as the town representative on the board of trustees of the Moosomin Union Hospital, the last two as chair, 16 years as a member of the Board of Stewards of Bethel United Church, the last 11 as secretary.
He was also a charter member of the Moosomin Kinsmen Club. He was chair of the Moosomin Centennial Community, and was on the Moosomin Savings and Credit Union board of directors from 1991 to 2001, the last three as vice-chairman.
John was awarded the Moosomin Chamber of Commerce’s President’s Award for Community Service in 1988.
As a result of his interest in family history, he has been a member of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society for many years, and served for five years as a member of the provincial board of directors.
He was one of the founding members of the Pipestone Branch of the SGS in Moosomin, which was formed in 1994, and one of the founding members of the Pipestone Branch of the SGS in Moosomin, which was formed in 1994.
An active Mason, he received his 50-year pin and certificate in the early part of 2004.
He served as Worshipful Master of Moosomin Lodge in 1968-1969, and was secretary-treasurer of the lodge for ten years. He also served a three-year term as a district representative on the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan, and three years as a member of the Grande Lodge’s scholarship committee, the last two as chairman.
He is a past member of the Royal Arch Masons of Moosomin, and was a life member of the Wascana Preceptory of Knights Templar in Regina.
A member of the Wa Wa Shriners in Regina, he was a charter member of the Moosomin Shrine Club, constituted in 1999, and was the first secretary-treasurer, serving four years in the capacity.
He was predeceased by a sister, Catherine, in childhood, then by his parents John and Catherine, another sister, Florence Charlotte Bain, his wife Joan (Connell) and nephew, Clifford John Bain.
He is survived by his devoted companion, Norma Frazer and her family, by daughters Catherine (Guy) in Montreal and Jane in Saskatoon, and by four nieces in Moose Jaw, most notably Joy Bain.
John died in Pasqua Hospital on December 20, 2014. A memorial service will be held in Regina in the spring.
The family would appreciate donations to the Regina SPCA, to Angels of Hope Animal Rescue in Esterhazy, or to your local animal rescue association.
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