POULTER, Frederick Lewis Poulter

The Lord called Frederick Lewis Poulter to come and be with Him in heaven on June 7, 2026, at the age of 96. He passed away peacefully at home with family by his side.

Fred was born on July 24, 1929, to Violet and Wilfred Poulter and was a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay. He attended Isabella Public School and Fort William Collegiate Institute. In his final year at FWCI he was President of the Student Council. He earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University in 1950 and became a Chartered Accountant in 1953.

In 1955, Fred married Joan Aris with whom they had five children prior to her early death in 1974. In 1976 he married Jeannette Enders who predeceased him in 1997. In 2000 Fred married Joan Seaman. With immediate and extended families, he had eleven children, eighteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

His working career included eighteen years with the firm of F.H. Black & Company, Chartered Accountants, and he was a partner in that firm prior to leaving in 1966 to join Chapples Stores Limited as Treasurer/Controller. In 1968 he joined the Fort William Board of Education that became part of the Lakehead Board of Education in 1969. Fred was Superintendent of Business until 1987 when he left to join Lakehead University as Vice-President of Administration. Following retirement from Lakehead University in 1996, Fred spent 5 years as a labour arbitrator.

Throughout his life, he devoted countless hours to serving his community, offering his time and steady leadership to many organizations. Whether he was helping to organize national and international sporting events like the 1981 Jeux Canada Games as Vice Chair of Sports or as an advisor to the leadership team of the 1995 World Nordic Games, supporting youth hockey as President of the Fort William Hurricanes, serving as a board member on the inaugural Board of Governor’s for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, or lending a hand wherever it was needed to organizations such as the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay; he approached every commitment with humility and purpose. He never sought recognition; he simply believed in giving back, and he made it a quiet priority throughout his life. In 1995, Fred was honoured by the City of Thunder Bay with a 25 year service award recognizing his longstanding dedication to the community.

Fred was a lifelong athlete, participating in football, hockey, baseball, curling, and track and field. He was an accomplished quarterback in high school helping his FWCI team win the junior and senior championship during his tenure. Later in life he would play and coach in the senior league with the Roughriders and Ukes football teams. In track and field, the sprints were his specialty which ultimately led to Fred competing as a member of the Queen’s University track team in the 100-yard final at the Ontario University Athletic Association championship.

As a teenager, Fred’s father taught him how to play golf and set him on a course that would last a lifetime. Golfing became a major activity in his life right up to recent times. He was a member of the Fort William Country Club from 1980 to 2024, playing his last round of golf at the age of 95. In 1985/86 he was President of the club and in 2025 was given the title of Lifetime Member. He was also a member of the Royal Wood Golf and Country Club in Naples, Florida from 1987 to 2020.

Retirement brought Fred great satisfaction, especially winters spent in Naples, Florida, where he enjoyed playing many rounds of golf. His retirement also opened the door to exploring the world, including two unforgettable cruises circling the globe and a memorable voyage around South America via the Panama Canal.

Fred was a devout Christian and lifetime member of the Anglican Church. While a member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church he was Treasurer, Warden and Diocesan delegate. For six years he represented The Diocese of Algoma at the National Synod and was a member of the Finance Committee. In later years he was a member of St. Thomas’ Anglican Church and St. Monica’s Episcopal Church in Florida.

He was predeceased by his wives Joan and Jeannette, parents Violet and Wilfred, and brother George.

He is survived by his wife Joan; children Cathryn Poulter (Glenn), Barb Molloy (Rick), Don Poulter (Susan), Mary Lee Fitzmorris (Jim), Sheila Poulter (Norm), Patty Dovichi (Rocky), Robert Poulter (Heather), William Poulter (Mary), David Seaman (Stephanie), John Seaman and Paul Roberts (Carolyn); grandchildren Robyn (Colton) and Ryann (Charlie) Poulter, Whitney (Mike) Rissanen, Shannon (Ray) Fry, Alex, Abby, and Lily (Harrison) Poulter, Brittany (Marty) and Mitchell (Lakeshia) Fitzmorris, Amanda (Ian) Roulston, Adam (Tori) Poulter; Wilson (Maggie) and Kate (Joel) Poulter, Mark and Arwen Seaman, Quinten Seaman, Matthew and Katherine Roberts; great-grandchildren Wyatt and Adalyn Rissanen, Lennox Fitzmorris and Clara Szymkow, Remi Fitzmorris, Zion and Jasper Roulston, and Weston Poulter; and a large extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be held at St. Thomas Anglican Church, 1400 Edward St. S, Thunder Bay on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Visitation with family will be at 10:00 am and the service will commence at 11:00 am. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Valhalla Inn. A private family internment will take place at Mountain View Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Dr. Megan Sellick and Jocelyn of the Palliative Care Unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, to Breanna at ParaMed, and to the staff of Glacier Ridge Retirement Residence – especially Dawn – for the care and compassion they showed our father.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Thomas Anglican Church or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.