JOHN H. (JACK) DEANE E.D.

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JOHN H. (JACK) DEANE E.D. Peacefully on Saturday, March 1, 2003 at the Palliative Care Unit of St. Boniface General Hospital. Jack was born in Winnipeg in 1918, and educated at Norwood Collegiate and United College. In 1934 he enlisted in the 10th District Signals Regiment NPAM. He transferred to the active service force in 1940 as a Sergeant in the 3rd Divisional Signals. Commissioned in 1941, Jack proceeded overseas in 1942 and served in the UK and Northwest Europe with the Second Divisional Signals. At the end of hostilities he returned to the UK, served with CMHQ Signals in Farnborough, Hampshire and later as Technical Staff Officer, CMHQ, London. Before returning to Canada in 1946, Jack was married to Freda in Fleet, Hampshire. After returning to Winnipeg, Jack joined the 10th Independent Signals Regiment and retired in 1959 as Commanding Officer. In addition to the usual service medals, he was awarded the Queens Coronation Medal, the Efficiency Decoration, the French Jubilee Medal for services in Normandy, and the 1945-90 Liberation Medal by the Netherlands government. For many years he served as Manitoba representative of Signals Welfare Inc. In 1947 Jack joined the Manitoba Telephone System as a station installer. In 1952 he was appointed the systems first Safety Supervisor. He was instrumental in introducing forced air ventilation in manholes and other safety practices. In 1960 Jack transferred to the Supply Department. He served as Supply and Purchasing Manager until his retirement in 1978. Jack was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers, Chapter 50, a lifelong member of St. Philips Anglican Church, a member of the Royal Military Institute of Manitoba, the Signalers Club of Canada, and the 735 Communications Regiment Signals Association. In May 2002 he was appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Comn Regiment. Jack will be deeply missed by his wife of 57 years, Freda, and the families of his two sons, Geoff and Anna Deane of Toronto, and Lawrence and Susan Deane in Winnipeg, and their daughters, Sarah and Leah. Sarah and Leah will always very fondly remember their Grandpa. Jack was predeceased by his sister, Freda Williams, of Ottawa. In lieu of flowers, donations will be welcomed to the Memorial Fund of St. Philips Church, the Saint Boniface Hospital Palliative Care Unit, or the charity of ones choice. Jack was a great lover of music, opera, and theatre. He liked to read and to prepare homemade wine. He greatly enjoyed all kinds of home maintenance and repair work, and regularly helped his friends in maintaining their cottages and homes. A memorial service will be held in St. Philips Church at the corner of Tache and Eugenie Streets, Norwood, on March 4 at 1:00 p.m. Forever in our hearts. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 04, 2003