Motts, Kenneth Edward
Died peacefully at his home in Kitchener, Ontario on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the age of 86. He was the loving husband of Joyce Meckbach and cherished father of Nigel Motts (Irene), Katherine Motts-Walton (Gary Bradberry) and Jane Alexandra Motts and brother to Harold Motts (Barbara) of Ipswich, England. Ken was Grandpa to Khumiso, Andrew, Kerapetse of Kang, Botswana and Christopher of Calgary; Sean and Ryan of Mishawaka, Indiana; Rebecca of Miami, Florida and Ken's 11 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law of Grace (Janusz) Osinski, Ruth Ann (Vic) Jeanson, Bruce (Mary) Meckbach, Marjorie Meckbach, and survived by the mother of his children, Judi (Jim) Pedder. He was predeceased by his parents Kate (Myall) and George Edward Motts of Ipswich, his grandson Timothy Motts, son-in-law Chuck Walton and brothers-in-law Lloyd Meckbach and Bruce Fraser.
What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, loving kindness and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Ken's devout Pentecostal parents taught him how to walk with God. He spent his lifetime trying to discern the working of the Holy Spirit and be guided by it. That quest inspired The Four Churches Project to which he gave a decade of his retirement years as Chair of its Working Group. Prayer and singing in choirs - the K-W Philharmonic Choir, Trinity Chancel Choir, boy soprano at St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich - gave him energy for Four Churches and similar initiatives he championed with tenacity.
Seek justice was his mantra, guiding him whether prosecuting or defending in Courts Martial in the British Army, pioneering initiatives such as creating Ontario's first Community Resource Centre (CRC), Kitchener House, an NGO that permitted sentenced offenders to live and work in the community and that was an impetus for 26 other centers; or, designing SAPHRRI, an innovative community substance abuse project that enjoyed wide support from the area's trade unions and employers. At Bon Accord Farm, in Salem near Elora, he began a program for youth offenders to ensure that they came out of detention with work experience, life skills and a sense of self-respect. Waterloo Region, it was determined, did not have drug and addiction problems, and government cutbacks closed all 26 CRCs and Bon Accord, and the SAPHRRI plan was shelved. The one project that flourished is Kitchener Alliance Community Homes Inc., a not-for-profit agency that built 194 town houses with both rent-geared-to-income and market rent so that the 'under-housed' can have the dignity of a safe and affordable place to live. The sign on Ken's desk - "Think small. Big ideas scare people" - he routinely ignored, choosing instead quietly and humbly to ask others to join his quest for justice. Though his ideas did not always prevail, his words and actions reflected what a 'just life' looks like and guided many who found in him a spiritual north star.
Unconditional love is the gift he gave to his family, friends, the stranger at the door, former clients seeking assistance. From so many, including his general physician and the personal support workers who made his last year more comfortable, he received much loving kindness in return.
Cremation and a private burial service has taken place. Visitation will be held at Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener 519-749-8467, on Saturday, June 16, 2018 from 2:00 p.m - 3:15 p.m followed by a Celebration of Ken's life in the Chapel at 3:30 p.m. Reception to follow at the funeral home. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Trinity United Church or World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home). Visit www.henrywalser.com for Kenneth's memorial.