JOHN WILFRED STINSON

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JOHN (JACK) WILFRED STINSON May 4, 1925 - June 3, 2015 On Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Jack Stinson died peacefully and without pain at 9:00 p.m. in his room at the Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jack is survived by his wife, Vivian; children, Garry (Ruth), Ron (Gabby), Debbie (Robert) and John (Lisa); 14 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as his brother, Gordon (Marg). Jack lived a full life and was a loving husband, supportive father, and delighted grandfather and great-grandfather. He was extraordinarily proud of his children and always offered support for their endeavors. He loved to visit with family and friends to talk about life, love and what everyone was up to in their day-to-day worlds and it was even better when these visits were complimented by good food and good wine. Each of these gatherings was marked by a lot of laughter. Jack was born in Rivers, Manitoba in the home of his maternal great-grandparents John and Aggie Stevenson and was the son of George and Rosina Stinson. The family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan when he was still a toddler and Jack soon welcomed Elnora, Phyllis and Gordon to the family fold. The family lived through the depression and Jack spent his first few school years living with his paternal grandparents at their hotel in Oxbow, Saskatchewan. When he returned home to Regina, Jack became involved with many sports including hockey and football and the family acquired his beloved dog Tiny'. Tiny was cared for by Jack and his younger brother Gordon with Gordon being assigned the duties associated with Tiny's rear end while Jack enjoyed the front end responsibilities. As a teenager Jack was a grocery delivery boy, played hockey, swam, and quarterbacked his high school football team - the Central High Gophers. In his mid-teens Jack also became involved in the Air Force Cadets and would ride his bike the 50 km to the Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan airfield to participate in cadet activities. However, when war came in 1939 Jack asked permission from his mother to join up but Rosie refused until Jack turned 17 in 1942 - when he finally got his wish and he joined the Royal Canadian Navy. Jack served four years in the Navy and after initial training in Halifax was assigned to a RIVER Class Frigate stationed in Londonderry, Northern Ireland named the La Hulloise. The La Hulloise was part of a small pre-convoy strike team whose job it was to travel ahead of the main supply convoys between England and Murmansk, Russia, and England and the Mediterranean to hunt German U-Boats and attract enemy aircraft so that the main convoy would be prepared for engagement as necessary. Although Jack was a dedicated sailor and served as the non-commissioned officer on his Frigate's main gun crew; he was never proud of the battles with the German soldiers, seamen and pilots and regretted the loss of lives he had been party to. As a result Jack never talked much about the war. While on leave back in Regina, Jack met Vivian May Hagerman on a blind date arranged by Vivian's cousin Bart Howard. Jack and Viv became fast friends and ultimately fell deeply in love through their shared passion for dancing, a good joke and strong personal values associated with fairness, family and fidelity. It wasn't until later that Jack and Viv realized that they had actually met as young teenagers when Jack delivered groceries to Viv's aunt Matilda's home. Shortly after being honourably discharged from the Navy, Jack and Viv married and remained devoted to each other for 69 years. They wasted no time in starting a family and Garry arrived on his mother's birthday - January 6, 1947. Ron soon followed in September of 1948, then Debbie in September 1953, and finally John in November of 1958. The children were all born in Regina and the family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in fall, 1963. All of Jack and Viv's children have found success in their lives and each has a family of their own. Shortly after being discharged from the navy, Jack was able to secure a job with the newly opened Ford Motor Company parts and distribution centre in Regina. Jack began work as a warehouseman - stocking shelves, unloading box cars of auto parts, and preparing auto parts orders being sent to Ford Dealers throughout Saskatchewan, but he soon found himself rising through the ranks. Jack worked as a Field Manager throughout rural Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as a Metro Manager in Winnipeg, as a Marketing Manager for Manitoba, and finally as the Regional Manager for Marketing and Dealer Relations for Mid-Western Canada. As a people person Jack loved the personal interaction with car dealers and was particularly adept at building business relationships - this resulted in Mid-Western Canada leading Ford of Canada sales for much of Jack's tenure. After retiring at age 55 Jack and Viv built a home at Willard Lake, Ontario and spent summers enjoying the lake life and winters travelling throughout the southern USA. They spent a lot of time with Jack's brother Gordon and his wife Marg in Lake Havasu, Arizona, but also enjoyed time in Yuma, Arizona, Palm Springs, California, and Indio, California. These trips were also complimented by vacations in Cancun and Hawaii, but Jack's heart was always happiest when he was putting off organizing his tool shed at Willard Lake and thinking about the big fish that he had caught. Jack spent his final years living with Viv in Winnipeg and was often surrounded by his four children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren until it was necessary for him to move into Deer Lodge Centre in October of 2014. At Deer Lodge Jack loved to tease the nurses and other staff and developed good friendships with Ed, Bill and the other Jack. Thanks to all the staff at Deer Lodge and a special thanks to Colleen, Brenda, Noreen and Indira. As per Jack's wishes there will be no formal funeral service. Family intends to unite this summer and raise a glass (or two) in memory of a beloved husband, father and grandfather. Wojcik's Funeral Chapel, 2157 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB in care of arrangements 204.897.4665. For those who wish to sign Wojcik's online Guest Book please visit our website at www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 13, 2015