John GARDINER

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GARDINER: John Henry “Jack” Gardiner passed away peacefully on November 11, 2016 at the age of 90 in Valleyview Care Home in Brandon, Manitoba. John was born July 14, 1926 and was predeceased by his Mother Mary Ettie and Father Walter Felix Gardiner and his brothers Walter, Fred (Irene), George and sister Ethel (Wilford); his first wife Mary Ruth Gardiner, their son Gordie Cal and second wife Freda Currah Gardiner; brothers-in-law Vernon, Walter, Silas, Joe, Wayne and Billy; sisters-in-law Joyce, Phyllis, Evonne, and Gladys. He is survived by his children Heather (Kevin) Atkey, Jacquelyn (Allen) Ripley and Rob (Karen) Gardiner and his grandchildren Erika (Shane), Roslyn (Travis), Amber, Branden, Jesse, Nolen, Cassidy and his great-grandchildren, Amuna, Felix and Effie; his sisters Ada and Mildred and sisters-in-law Joyce and Joanne, Irene, Mae and brother-in-law Arnold; Karen, Gord, Bob and Wayne Currah and all of their families. John received his education at Millan School in the Terrace District and the Goodland School near Glenella. He signed up with the Canadian army March 1945 to July 22, 1946. He met Mary Ruth Squires and they married and farmed by Glenella later moving to farm near Franklin, Manitoba. The family enjoyed many good years on the farm; after Mary passed away John sold the farm and moved to Neepawa. John later married Freda Currah and they lived in Minnedosa, after Freda passed away he resided in Brandon for the remainder of his life. John was his legal name but to many people he was known as Jack. Jack was a good man who dearly loved his family and friends. Dad loved sports, as kids we remember him coming outside and playing hockey with us in the winter, and of course Saturday night ritual of Hockey Night in Canada. Dad also loved baseball and would come watch us kids play; Robert played for Bethany team and Heather and Jacquelyn in Hazelwood. His favorite team was always the Blue Jays. Just recently when Jacquelyn was saying good-bye from her visit with Dad she said, “I love you Dad”, and he said “I love you too and so do the Blue Jays.” We remember fondly the family football games where anything goes, next day after those games we would for sure have some bruises and good stories to tell. He loved hunting with his son Robert and Bob and Robert Currah. One memorable story was when they went out hunting and got turned around in the bush and had to spend the night out there, Dad said that was a little scary. After Dad retired he rekindled his love for the game of snooker. Dad spent many an afternoon in the drop-in centre in Neepawa playing pool. Dad began to compete in the Manitoba Senior Games in snooker and won gold not once but twice nd went on to win Silver in the Canadian Senior Games in Alberta. A Celebration of Life was held on Monday, November 14, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Calvary Chapel, Neepawa with Rev. Gordon Brown officiating. Interment followed at Riverside Cemetery.Clarke’s Funeral Home Gladstone~MacGregorwww.clarkesfunerahome.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 19, 2016