JOHN (JACK) ALFRED RAMIER

John (Jack) Alfred Ramier, 83, of Rainycrest Long Term Care, formerly of 851 Colonization Rd. W., Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully with his family by his side at his residence on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009.
He was born Oct. 15, 1926 in Minneapolis, Mn., the first-born son of John Frederick and Mary Bertha Ramier.
Jack attended St. Thomas grade school and South West High School in Minneapolis. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and spent two-and-a-half years on the battleship “North Carolina” in the Pacific region.
He met Maxine Pare in 1949. They were married on May 30, 1950 and had seven children.
Jack worked as a painting and decorating partner with his father and uncles for many years until he went into his own business. In 1975, Jack and Maxine immigrated to Canada to be in the fishing resort business, of which they worked at for 19 years.
They became Canadian citizens in 1984, and always said it was the “good life” summers in Canada and winters in Tucson, Ariz.
Jack was always a very healthy person until a year ago when he was hospitalized with vascular dementia.
Jack is survived by his wife of 59 years, Maxine; one brother, George Ramier (Ellen) of Sunset, La. and one sister, Mary Jean Persons of Hopkins, Mn.; his seven children, Kathy (Shane) Doherty, Mary (Steve) Schultz, Joseph (Cheryl) Ramier, Barbara (Romeo) Duguay, John (Brenda) Ramier, Nancy (Craig) Calvert, and Patricia (Glenn) Jorgenson; 14 grandchildren, Meghan (Jeff), Adam (Susan), Conor (Jody), Zachary (Missy), Bryan, Patrick, Paul (Kayla), Joshua (Neeghin), Mitchell, Caleb (Brooke), McKenzie, Taylor, Samuel, and Bridget; one great-grandchild, Madeline Pierce, and three more on the way.
Jack was predeceased by his parents, John and Mary Bertha; and one sister, Marjorie.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, with Fr. Francis Pudicherry officiating.
Cremation will follow, with interment to take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances at a later date.
Family and friends may visit Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with parish prayers at 7 p.m.
The pallbearers will be Lester Hanson, Kevin Kennedy, Tom Mosbeck, Bob Hampe, and Mike, David, and Dan Persons.
The honourary pallbearers will be Adam and Paul Duguay; Meghan, McKenzie, Josh, and Zachary Shultz; Connor, Brian, and Patrick Doherty; Mitchell, Caleb, and Samuel Calvert; and Taylor and Bridgette Jorgenson.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to Family Council of Rainycrest, 550 Osborne St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3T2, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 920 Frenette Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3N4, or to the charity of your choice c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com