We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Neil Sydney John Voutt (Ret'd), peacefully on 26 December 2023 after a sudden and brief illness, at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie ON, in his 80th year.
Neil was born in Toronto ON and joined the Royal Canadian Engineers at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC in 1961 with the 10th Intake of the Sapper Apprentices. Neil took his release from the Canadian Forces in 1965 and then worked for several years as a draftsman for the Toronto Department of Highways.
Neil then had another major change in his career path when he joined the food industry. He started with the meat department in Dominion Stores and later moved into sales. One of his greatest accomplishments at Dominion was his work with the Canadian National Exhibition.
Neil joined Dare Foods Ltd in 1982, where he built the Food Service Division from just a vision to what it is today. Some notable accomplishments with Dare included putting the Dare cookie crunch in all the Dairy Queen ice cream cakes, and delivering the after-dinner mints at The Keg, Boston Pizza, and The Mandarin. Neil retired from Dare in 2010 after 28 years of service.
Some of Neil's greatest times were spent at their cottage on Paradise Island in the Kawarthas. Neil's daughter's wedding on the property in 2016 sparked a wedding business, and five movies have been filmed at his property over the last several years.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, 6 January 2024 from 2-4:00 p.m. and 7-9:00 p.m. at Paul F Kent Funeral Home {16 King St North, Cookstown, ON }. There will be a Celebration of Life following the burial when Neil is laid to rest in Spring 2024. Details will be shared once they are finalized.
Donations in Neil's Memory can be made to Autism Ontario or Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.
