Elder Jack, 93, of Emo, Ont., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 at the Emo Health Centre in Emo.
Elder was born Aug. 2, 1915 to Amelia and Lewis Jack on the family homestead in Lash Township.
Elder is survived by his sisters, Eileen Martin of Peterborough, Ont. and Hilda Sweet of Ear Falls, Ont.; and brother, Harvey, and wife, Fay, of Castlegar, B.C.; sons, Larry and wife, Maureen, and Melvin; daughter, Marilynn; and sisters-in-law, Elma Hunter of Thunder Bay, Ont. and Madge Littlefield of Burlington, Ont.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Rodney (Carla) of Emo, Ont., Darcy (Liz) of Emo, Ont., and Jodi of the United Arab Emirates; and Chad (Stacey) of Fort Frances, Ont., Clinton (Penny) of St. Thomas, Ont., Cara (Garrett) Taschuk of International Falls, Mn., Shane (Pam) of Emo, Ont., and Wade (Cindy) of St. Andrews, Man.; and 14 great-grandchildren, Donovan and Katelynn Jack, Leah and Katherine Jack, Mathew and Tyler McDonald, Sammy and Mac Enns,
Andrew Jack, Cooper and Cayden Taschuk, and Emma, Hunter, and Ty Freeman.
Elder was predeceased by his wife, Jean Campbell; sister, Naida; brothers-in-law, Charles Lalonde, Jim Sweet, Ron Martin, Jim Hunter, Aldie Littlefield, Allan Hyatt, Don Campbell, and Ken Campbell; sisters-in-law, Verna Hyatt and Phyllis Campbell; daughter-in-law, Susan Jack; and son-in-law, Ross McDonald.
In his younger years, Elder was active in the Cattlemen’s Association, Soil and Crop Association, Emo Fair board, stock car club, Lash school board, Rainycrest Home for the Aged, and Masonic Lodge.
He also was a councillor and reeve of Emo Township.
Elder started work driving teams of horses in the bush in his early teenage years. He also worked in 1932 on the Kenora Highway for $5/month, guided fishermen from the 1930s off and on until the 1960s, worked on roads in Estevan, Sask., farmed the family homestead until 1971, and then worked for the MNR building roads south of Flanders until 1980, when he retired.
Elder married Jean Campbell in 1942 and Jean passed away in 1982.
In their retirement years together, they travelled to Alaska, New Zealand, and Australia, and extensively in Canada and United States, spending winters in Florida and Arizona.
Elder enjoyed travelling, playing cards, following the horse race circuit, dances, fishing, and driving the four-horse hitch at the Emo Fair. He also enjoyed going for breakfast at the Circle D restaurant, where his toast and coffee was on the table before he even got into the building.
If you gave him 10 minutes’ notice, he would go anywhere.
Elder only missed one Emo Fair (in 1942 when they were in Estevan). Elder called the great-grandchildren “Old Socks.”
Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 15, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Northridge Funeral Home in Emo, with Rev. Frances Flook officiating.
Visitation commenced at noon.
Interment in Emo Cemetery.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Emo Health Centre c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo., Ont, P0W 1E0 or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
