Businessman, gardener.
Born in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland on 22 August 1873, son of John Noonan (1848-1915) and Catherine O’Riordan (1856-1923), his father emigrated to Canada in 1882 and established a large-scale market garden on Princess Avenue in Brandon. His family joined him in 1885. He served in the Manitoba Dragoons during the Boer War (1898-1902) and in the 99th Regiment of the Manitoba Rangers (1913-1914).
He was married twice, first on 31 August 1904 to Polly Newton (?-?) with whom he had a son, Harry Noonan (1907-1982). On 25 October 1910, he married Clara Mellor (1886-1959) and they had four more sons: Richard Noonan, Bernard Noonan (1916-1972), Carl Noonan (1919-1995), and Hagar Noonan (1923-1923). From 1920 to 1944, he was the Head Gardener at the Brandon Mental Hospital.
He died on 18 June 1962 and was buried in the Brandon Cemetery. He may be commemorated by Noonan Drive in Brandon.
Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.
Obituary [Bernard Noonan], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 February 1972, page 23.
Grave transcriptions, Brandon Cemetery.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank David McConkey for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Judy Nixon and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 26 June 2026
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