John Albert Culbert

What do you say about your dad when he passes? How do you find the words you never wanted to write?

John Albert Culbert, always known as “Ab.” To his Katrine family, he was “Aubby,” where he spent his childhood summers building boats and racing on the water. Dad was born in Burk’s Falls, Ontario on July 12th, 1937, the only son of Gerald and Pearl Culbert.

Dad passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 30th, 2025, at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, surrounded by love after trying his very best to stay with us. But it was his time—he was needed as a “storyteller of fabulous tales” in a higher place, to bring laughter and smiles there as he always did here.

Dad will forever be remembered as a local historian, artist, and teller of tall tales in Burk’s Falls, where he was born and lived most of his life until moving to Sundridge with his wife Dorothy. He had a gift for lighting up a room with his big smile, a warm greeting, and his never-ending stories. He had the gift of gab—sometimes hard to escape—but his stories always made you smile.

His love for history, the steamships of the Magnetawan River, storytelling and snowmobile racing with “the girls,” Cyndi and Karen, will live on forever.

Dad leaves behind his cherished wife Dorothy, her son Brian. He will be lovingly missed by his daughters, always known to him as “the girls,” Cyndi (Jim Shedden) and Karen (Peter Chenette); his four grandchildren, Linzi, Meaghan, Brady, and Landon; and his much-loved great-grandchildren, Cain, Sadie, Colby, Dalleigh, Nash, Blake, Cole, Wesley, Bowen, and Ryan. Ab is predeceased by Shirley Culbert, Cyndi and Karen’s mother.

A celebration of a life well lived will take place at the Burk’s Falls Legion on October 11th from 1:00–4:00 p.m., and everyone is welcome to join us and share stories. Arrangements entrusted to Opatovsky Funeral Home-Dempster Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Little Paws Pet Rescue, in honour of Dad’s beloved rescued cat, “Sammie.” 

He will be deeply missed, but his love, laughter, and stories will carry on in all who knew him. And in Dad’s words…… ‘somewhere, there is always a story’