Obituaries

On the bright, cold morning of February 18, 2025, Jack quietly slipped away from us; likely headed back to another time where he would have spent the morning slopeside in Whitefish with Matt and Gail.

John – to be known as Jack from birth - was born in Cabri, Saskatchewan on August 2, 1948. The second son born to Eileen and the fourth son for Charles. The family would expand to include 3 sisters for Jack to love as well.

Jack grew up on the farm and in Abbey, Saskatchewan, spending his school days at Abbey School, using his wagon to take the meals Eileen prepared up the street to Roland. For Jack and his older brother Ron winters were spent learning to skate and play hockey on the outdoor rink while summer involved daily ball games and various farming duties at Olive and Erwin’s farm. The indoor rink finally arrived in Abbey in 1962, just a year before Jack started playing for the Leader Flyers at 15 years of age. Not old enough to drive, Ron was charged with chauffeuring his younger brother to all his games. An accomplished athlete and farmer, Jack even had a short-lived stint as a Bull rider (one summer). Jack played hockey as much as baseball and was highly skilled at both.

Moving on from Abbey, Jack stayed with the Hinds family in Swift Current, Saskatchewan with his best friend Kenny and began his highly touted career with the Swift Current Broncos. Jack was always extremely proud of his time with the Broncos, returning often in later years to attend events and support “his” team in any way possible. In addition to hockey, Jack played with the Swift Current Indians and was thrilled to attend their induction as a team into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, long after his playing days were past. It was at this time Jack’s first daughter, Jackie was born. He was thrilled when later in life there was opportunity to get to know her and include her as part of his family, as well as gaining the ability to brag about her and her husband, whenever given the chance.

Summer of 1970 saw Jack playing ball for Chaplin while surveying in the area for the Department of Highways. It was that fateful summer that Jack lost his dad to a stroke but met a young nurse sitting with his dad during the nightshift. This young nurse (who he had spied dancing up at the Skyline) would be married to Jack within a year, quickly becoming his best friend, confidant and co-host in all his endeavors.

In fall of ’71, Jack and Gail set off for Salzburg to begin married life. Jack got a paid gig to play hockey for Salzburg as an import. He was a celebrity in Saltzberg and it proved to be a remarkable year, as the team won the European and World Ice Hockey Championship. The ensuing party is legendary, and the mayor of Saltzberg gave Jack a ceremonial key to the city. These exciting times ignited a love of travel for the young couple, who managed to stretch the Salzberg years into a trip that would take them across Europe, down into Spain and ultimately to Morocco, before they found a cargo ship willing to shuttle them back to Canada, where Jack once again turned to hockey, signing on with the Drumheller Miners. Soon after, Jack and Gail left for Vancouver Island, where Jack worked at a lumber mill and played senior hockey for the Duncan team, while Gail nursed; this phase in didn’t last long. Late in 1973, with a baby on the way, they decided it was time for Jack to get a “real” job, so after making a pit stop in Swift Current where Jack coached both senior and junior hockey for the winter while they waited for the baby. They then headed to Brandon, Manitoba to settle into family life, where Jack honed his celebrated sales skills in real estate, while working with his older half-brother Charlie.

Brandon was a busy time for Jack and Gail, two boys were added to the family in short order, while Jack opened Brawn & Brawn Real Estate with his brother. He found out quickly his skills lay in the immigrant farm sector, this to be a defining part of his life, spending a month each fall and spring doing seminars across Europe to show potential landed immigrants the beauty and potential of farm life in Canada. A cottage at Clear Lake with a boat, courtesy of a deal in a hockey change room, a stint as the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Brandon, and a few years of hockey with the Brandon Olympics (they got to the Allan Cup one year) forged strong connections and lifelong friendships.

In 1985 the family relocated once more, their final move. Once they arrived at 802 McIntosh Street North, they never moved (or got rid of anything) again. In Regina, Jack utilized his sales skills and found work at the Regina Leader Post Advertising department. After a few years with the Leader Post, Jack turned his focus to life insurance and began selling for Great West Life, which proved to be something he excelled at. Jack won awards and was invited to high end events and conferences, able to drag Gail along, this again gave them the ability for much travel and fun. He LOVED the insurance business and the people it brought into his life. If you worked with him, you’ll understand. As ever, hockey was the first thing Jack signed up for, which as always cemented him a place in the community, again leading to many strong friendships, hockey parties and a famous 14-year tradition of an annual ski trip.

Jack enjoyed many things – being a lifelong Maple Leafs and Dodgers fan, a faithful Roughrider season ticket holder, a hunter, fisherman, a great dad, and a great apple picker and peeler. He was Gail’s constant companion on all their pickling adventures and gastronomic forays. In the end she managed to have him cook far more often than her AND do the clean-up.

Jack was passionate about going to the grocery store, going to the liquor store, running errands for Gail, running errands with Gail, making “rum” runs to Alberta, reading cowboy fiction, buying stacks of books, selling stacks of books, making sure he called and kept in touch, doing favours, going to Costco, eating out, cooking in, planning weekends with friends at the lake, hosting a good fish fry, gardening, planning and hosting any and all parties, hopefully finding the perfect wine, beer or scotch to go with the occasion. Jack lived to do favours expecting nothing in return. His enthusiasm for life and the joy he found in these simple pleasures left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Jack retired in 2019, dedicating himself full-time to serving his family, a role he embraced wholeheartedly. Sadly, he found himself widowed in early 2021. Despite the challenges, Jack managed to find joy in the simple pleasures of life; he especially appreciated having more time to spend with his grandson, August.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Eileen and Charles, his son Matthew, and soulmate Gail, who was by his side for close to 50 years. Left to mourn are his children Erinn-Jane (Darin), Duncan and Jackie (Juan); his brother Ronald (Terry); his sisters Olive (Erwin), Janice (Robert) and Debbie; his sisters-in-law Carol-Lynn (Gary) and Connie (Terry); as well as numerous nieces and nephews, each who he took a personal interest in loved fully.

Let us not forget his favorite hockey, baseball and soccer player of all time, who will always remember his Grampy, grandson August.

We extend heartfelt thanks to the staff, caregivers and friends of Jack whom he met at Riverbend Memory Care. Your hard work, patience and perseverance helped make the last year of his life comfortable and pleasant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Concussion Institute or the Alzheimer’s Society.

Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in the Royal Regina Golf Course, 5401 – 11th Avenue West, Regina, Saskatchewan. RSVP to 306-737-5671 or erinnjane@gmail.com. Private interment with the family will be held at a later date.