Edward David Learning
October 10, 1940 to May 31, 2023
Obituary
Passed peacefully away on May 31, 2023 at the Health Science Centre.
Predeceased by his loving wife, Gloria, of 59 years, his parents Charles and Kathleen, brothers Samuel, Charles and Wayne, sisters Dora (Seaward), Joan (Morrissey), Blanche (O’Neil) and Edna, nephew Jason Cornick, and close friends Austin Anthony, Jack Bishop, and Gladstone Sparkes. Leaving to mourn his son Peter (Wanda) and granddaughter Maria (Howie), as well as his sister Patricia (Williams) and many nephews, nieces, and friends.
Ed loved the outdoors, including canoeing, fishing, hunting & riding his ATV. He shared his love with many younger generations, having been involved with the Scouts for over 35 years. While he was a jack of all trades, he worked at the Health Science Centre & Miller Centre for over 25 years. He retired to his cottage on Salmonier Line, where he spent many hours puttering in his shed and having boil ups in the surrounding trails with his friends and neighbours.
The family wish to thank the Staff of 4 North B HSC for their kindness and care. Also, special thanks to Dr. Gokul Vidyasankar.
Family will receive visitors at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road on Sunday, June 4 from 2-9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed’s memory may be made to Scouts Canada https://www.scouts.ca/donate/online-ways-to-donate.html.
Ed was a truly special person. Like all the former members of the 6th St. John’s, I experienced many new and exciting adventures as a result of Ed’s selfless devotion to Scouting. He will be sorely missed. Although he is gone, he will live forever in our memories.
So sorry for your loss. Peter and family
What a wonderful man A super volunteer. A king when it came to scouting volunteer. He gave so much to scouting. Sorry to hear about your dad Peter. RIP
Peter & Family,
My sincere condolences in the passing of your Dad. Ed was an amazing gentleman, leader, mentor & contributed significantly to the Scouting movement.
As a former 6th St John’s Scouter, I remember specially attending a summer camp in the backwoods of Terra Nova many years ago. Ed was on the leadership team for the camp and he ensured we had a week of lasting memories: Fun/ Canoeing / Survival & Team Building Skills which many of us utilized though out life.
Thankyou Ed, you made a difference in many of our lives & your contribution, support & dedication will not be forgotten .
My thoughts & prayer remain.
It was an honour to have known Ed and to have shared many an outdoor experience with him, especially within the Scouting movement as Venturer advisors. Although we have drifted apart the last few years, he is someone I will never forget. My condolences to the family.
Sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Learning. Condolences to Peter and the Learning Family.
Condolences to Peter and family. On Eds passing..
RIP Ed.
Ed was one of the cornerstones, a mentor, and so influential in teaching me what it is to be a good man. I’m sure I’m not the only 6th St. John’s Venturer to say that.
His positive impact on this world was immeasurable and almost impossible to quantify. I would go so far as to say unparalleled by any. I am honoured to have had him as an advisor, mentor, and friend..
My sincerest condolences to Peter, and family on Ed’s passing.
I am so sorry for your loss. Like many others I met Ed as a youth involved with sixth St. John’s scouting. There followed many years of mentorship, Scouting, outdoor activities and friendship. Ed made a difference in my life and in the lives of many others. He will be missed.
Peter, Wanda and Maria:
So sorry to hear of your Dad/Grandfather’s passing. He was a wonderful man and he always made us so welcome when our Trefoil Guild visited at Salmonier Line for our annual BBQ. He is reunited with his love, Gloria, now. Keep your many wonderful memories close and they will both live in your hearts forever. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Joan Monk
Can-te-ka-ye Trefoil Guild.
Dear Peter and Family
Ed has gone Home. A lovely person with is own sense of things. A great Scouter who touched many young people. My sincere condolences.
Ernie Reid
Ed played a major role in four of the most influential years of my life. As the advisor for the 6th St. John’s Venturer Co, he taught me how to survive in both the Newfoundland wilderness and in life. As a force within the Scouting moment, Ed created an atmosphere of drive and pride within the 6th that made us all feel like we were a part of something special. I will always cherish my memories of canoe trips across the Avalon, stove tents at MOPS, and Baba O’Reilly on the way to Jungle Jim’s.
Thank you Ed, you made a big difference in lot of people’s lives.
My sincerest condolences to the family.
Peter & Family
I am sorry to hear of your Dads passing. My thoughts are with you all.
Peter, my condolences on the passing of your father. May his memories be a blessing.
Peter , wanda and Maria there are no words to express how very sad we feel hearing this sad news . We feel your pain and sadness in the loss of our dear friend Ed . sincere condolences to you and all the families .Ed was a very dear and special friend in our lives . We enjoyed many years of friendship with Ed and Gloria on the Salmonier . Our visit’s for Tea and coffee and meals shared . Ed and Frank spent many days having chats over a cup o tea out in the shed and at our home . They will be missed very much . We were talking to Ed a few hours before his passing little did we know it would be our last goodbye. Our hearts are broken , Ed and Gloria Will always be in our thoughts and hearts .remembering all the laughter we shared and the stories that Ed told he was a real character always laughing and carrying on we will miss him dearly rest in peace Ed our kind and gentle friend . Love to you all Peter ,Wanda and Maria you were his world . We never met you Maria but we knew you through your grandparents. They were so proud of you and certainly the apple of their eyes . Our thoughts and prayers are with you ,may all your memories help you through this difficult time .love Marion and Frank
To the Learning Family,
So sorry to learn of Ed’s passing. We extend our sincere sympathy and condolences at this most difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My deepest sympathies to the Learning Family. Your Dad was a great mentor as a Scout & Venturer leader to many young boys. I had the pleasure of working with him on the 6th St. John’s Group Committee and his desire to instill in his boys the values of Scouting was always present. His legacy will live on as many of his boys, my son included, have assumed leadership roles in Scouting.
Peter, Wanda and Maria I’m very sorry for your loss. Ed was a wonderful person with a great sense of humor.
He will be missed..
I gained so much knowledge and life skill from Ed Learning.
As a young lad fresh into St. John’s from the mainland, Ed was the very last customer on my Daily News paper route before school.
I was eager to get back into Scouting and could not help but notice the patrol boxes in the back of his old blue Ford pickup.
He accepted me into the 6th St. John’s Venturer Company a year before I was of age.
I owe my outdoor skills to him and I have done my best to pass them on to further generations of Cubs, Scouts and Venturers.
Ed was a great mentor and roll model to so many young men, many of which I still call my friends.
Ed was one of a select few people in my life that I truly believe lived by the Scout Law
A Scout is helpful and trustworthy
kind and cheerful
Considerate and clean
And wise in the use of all resources.
Rest well my friend.
Wonderful man. Helped me an awful lot while I was in the Venturers. Will be missed very much.
To Peter, Maria and family.
Ed was a mentor to many including myself. I have many fond memories of camps and canoe trips on the salmonier line as well as encounters during Maria’s years as a dancer at dance studio east.
I am So Sorry for your loss. He was a support and such a kind person for many moments in my life — he was there during my father’s recovery for heart surgery as well as my recovery for a broken leg. He treated his venturers like his own sons.
Thank you MR. Learning for your guidance and patience.
Love
Andrew Reid
So sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
My dear Maria, Peter, and Wanda,
There are no words to explain how sad I am with Ed’s passing. He was a dear friend of my Dad, and after his passing, he became a very special person to me. Every time I spoke to him, it was like having a piece of my Dad back. I know he missed Gloria and my Dad very much, and now they are all reunited. The tea is flowing and the quads are getting packed up for a run and a boil up. I feel your loss deeply. Please know you are in my thoughts. Please know how much he loved you and how proud he was of you all. I will certainly miss our chats, and our visits whenever we were in town, but I find solace in his heavenly reunion.
Deepest condolences from myself and Corey, my brothers John and Steve, and their families.
May you find comfort and peace in your happy memories. Rest In Peace, dear Ed Learning. Xo
Deepest condolences to the Learning family, extended family and friends. Ed was a great man and mentor, he touched the lives of so many over the years. Ed was a true mentor, and well known in the scouting world and left a positive impact on a large number of us over the years.
My deepest condolences to Ed’s family and friends. It’s hard to overstate the impact Ed had on the lives of so many youth through Scouting and his involvement leading the 6th St. John’s Venturer crew. He taught us resilience, camaraderie, teamwork, a love of the outdoors and nature. I’ll never forget our hunting trips, long multi-pond canoe trips from his cabin, our gander river trips, winter camping in lean to shelters. The man was a legend and the positive impact he had on so many of us will never be forgotten. Godspeed Ed, you will be missed.
Learning family, Our deepest condolence for your loss.
Patricia, thinking of you as you mourn the passing of your brother. May Ed rest in peace. Missing you at the 50s+.