UPDATE: Allan Edward Tustian passed away peacefully on Friday, October 4, 2019, in his 101st year. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 69 years, Alma (Smeltzer) Tustian. Loving father of Marilyn (Stephen) Hill, Michael (Lynda), Mark (Donna), Doug (Crystal), Jeanne (Marc) Lefebvre, John (Vannetta). He will be forever remembered by his 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Also remembered by his many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Predeceased by his father Robert George Tustian and mother Mary Elizabeth Farquhar and siblings Elmer (Maxine), Jean (Joe) Hodgson, Bill (Ruth), Orval (Eva), Mary (Owen) Boyle.
Friends will be received at Trinity United Church, Mindemoya today, Friday, October 11, 2019, from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm, where a service of Celebration will be held on Saturday at 11 am. Interment to follow at Mindemoya Cemetery.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A Manitoulin Island naval veteran who saw action on D-Day turned 100 this week.
Allan Tustian was one of Canada’s first Asdic operators, commonly-known as sonar, which detected submarines during the Second World War.
Tustian served for four years from 1941 to 1945 including the Battle of Atlantic and the landing at Normandy during D-Day.
His contributions were acknowledged this weekend in Mindemoya by shipmates from the Manitoulin North Shore Naval Veterans, which he also assisted in establishing 35 years ago, as well as family and friends.
Tustian served on three Royal Canadian Navy warships — a destroyer, a corvette and a frigate, including the HMCS Timmins, on escort for 43 convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. He also saw service in D-Day events.
For his distinguished war service, Tustian was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star with the France and Germany Clasp, the Canadian Volunteer Medal, and the War Medal.
In 1985, he was awarded the Russian Arctic Star for his Murmansk convoy service. In the spring of 2013, he was awarded the Arctic Star by the government of Great Britain for his service above the Arctic Circle.
He returned to Manitoulin Island, Lake Mindemoya and Treasure Island Lodge. It was on Treasure Island that he met his future wife, Alma Smeltzer. Tustian and Alma were married on February 17th, 1950.
Tustian is the father of six children, four boys and two girls, grandfather to 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
