JOHN HAMILTON "JACK" GLAWSON

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JOHN HAMILTON "JACK" GLAWSON John Hamilton "Jack" Glawson, beloved husband of Vera, passed away at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on August 2, 2003, at the age of 80 years. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Vera; son Bruce of Toronto; daughter Lydia; son-in-law Francis Cancade; grandchildren, Erin, Julie, and Steven; his brother Harvey of Hartney, MB; and sister Bette Coates of Summerland, BC. Jack was born on a farm north of Argue, near Hartney, on May 26, 1923. During the Depression, the family moved to a "soddy" built by his father Hailey at Oak Lake. After his dads sudden death when Jack was only eight years old, his mother Christina, his four brothers, Harvey, Ted, George and Chris, and his sister Bette moved back to Hartney. To help with family expenses, Jack worked various jobs, herding cattle, doing farm work and delivering groceries and newspapers. In 1941, at the age of 18, Jack enlisted with the Royal Canadian Artillery and served overseas in Italy, France and Holland. On the 50th anniversary of VE-Day, Jack and Vera returned to Holland and were overwhelmed and humbled by the gratitude shown by the Dutch people to their Canadian liberators. In 1945, Jack returned home from the war, still in uniform, and attended a dance where he met Vera, who was teaching school in Hartney. They were married in the Beaconsfield District on July 26, 1947. They settled in Brandon, where Lydia was born in 1953 and Bruce in 1954. Jack was hired as a painting apprentice by Crane Brothers in Brandon and in 1959 he bought out the company, which became Glawson Painting and Decorating Ltd. Jack was well respected in the business community, and in 1994 he was presented with the Ben Wiebe Memorial award for his outstanding contribution to his profession and to his community by the Brandon Builders Exchange. Jack was an active member of St Pauls, Central and Knox United Churches, Toastmasters, and the Masonic Lodge. Jack had many varied interests during his life. He enjoyed travelling, golfing and water-skiing at Clear Lake with family and friends. He achieved a dream of gaining a pilots licence. He and Vera enjoyed a close group of dear friends whom they met through square dancing. Retirement brought Jack the joys of being a grandparent. He was an avid supporter of his three grandchildren in all their activities. Jack took on kitchen duties when he retired, including bread baking. He rarely missed morning coffee down at Humptys where he kept in touch with his business and construction buddies as they shared all the latest "news". Jack faced his recent illness with courage and dignity. He was grateful for his 80 years of life and for the friends and family who enriched it. The Ceremony to Celebrate Jacks Life was held at Central United Church on Thursday, August 7. The Rev. Glenna Beauchamp officiated. Interment will follow in the Hartney Cemetery, Hartney, at a later time. Flowers are gratefully declined. Friends who wish may make a donation in memory of Jack to the Westman Association for Terminal Care in Hospice, Unit M, 435 Rosser Ave., Brandon, MB R7A 6S2. Jacks family would like to thank all the friends, family, health and palliative care workers who were so good to him and for their invaluable support of him and us during his illness. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to memorieschapel@mts.net. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2003