Jack STACY

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STACY: The family of Jack Steven Stacy sadly said farewell to him on Saturday, May 30, 2009 after an incredible 17 year battle with inoperable cancer. Despite his increasing disability and frailty he never complained and was always ready to help anyone to the best of his ability and with a cheerful smile. “Can’t” was a word unknown to him. Jack will be greatly missed by his wife Pam, children: Bonnie Stacy-West (John), Rod (Corinne) Stacy, Trudy (Mark) Martin, stepchildren: Susan (Rick) Palmer, Jacqui (Don) Hurton, Philip (Michelle) O’Brien-Moran, Debi O’Brien-Moran (Murry Small), Michael O’Brien-Moran, Alison O’Brien-Moran (Carl Hildebrand), Richard (Shaunna) O’Brien-Moran, Louise O’Brien-Moran, 25 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, sisters Bev (Frank) Dingwall, and Joan (Ed) Sylte, sister-in-law Ann Stacy and numerous nieces and nephews. Jack was devoted to all his family, and they adored him in return. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his first wife Clarice (1975), two sons: Robbie (1952) and Grant (1965) and his brother: Dick (2001). Jack was born on March 8th, 1925 in Vancouver, the first born of his parents Percy and Irene Stacy. He grew up in logging camps on Vancouver Island and, as soon as he was old enough, he enlisted in the R.C.A.F., training as a mid upper gunner in Halifax bombers. His training was done as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, largely at MacDonald in Manitoba, before being posted to Leeds, England. It was from there that he flew over Germany, mainly on night raids, in a Halifax bomber – lovingly referred to as the “Halibag.” While at Macdonald he met his future wife, Clarice Evans, and they were married in Winnipeg in 1945, immediately after W.W.II. After a short period on Vancouver Island, they made their home in Winnipeg, where Jack started his career with the Manitoba Telephone System and Robbie, Bonnie and Rodney were born. In 1959, Jack moved his family to Kemnay when he became Supervising Engineer for the Western Region of M.T.S., working out of Brandon. It was here that Trudy and Grant were born. Always very community orientated, Jack was active in many organizations. He was a Founder Member and Past President of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Past President of the Rotary Club of Brandon, and was very proud of his Paul Harris Fellowship in Rotary. He was a 45 year member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, Life Member of Telephone Pioneers, Board member of W.A.T.C.H., Board member of the Cancer Society helping to establish the Lennox Bell Lodge in Winnipeg. Served in different capacities in Central United Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church. He had also been a School Trustee and on the Council of Kemnay School and Church. In 1982, Jack retired from M.T.S. after 35 years service and, at the same time, he met and married Pam O’Brien-Moran. In 1987, they moved to a small acreage just outside Riding Mountain National Park where they built their dream home themselves with the help of family members. With their horses, dogs, chickens, fish and gardens this was a dream retreat for family (especially the grandchildren) and friends, and Jack was in his element “living in the bush.” While there, Jack became the Reeve of the Local District of Park. He was also an active member of Erickson Royal Canadian Legion, serving as President and where he received the Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Service. He was an active member of the Erickson Lutheran Church, and was always to be found at any community function, especially if help was needed. It was here that he learned to square dance and was always the life of any gathering. He loved ballroom dancing and was usually the first one on and the last one off the dance floor. Jack also loved the outdoors, especially in the winter, and could be found waxing his skis as the first snowflake fell each fall. Jack was rightly proud of his certificate from the Red Cross Society, commending him for his 100 donations of blood. He achieved this just before his illness forced him to stop donating. With his health failing, Jack and Pam sadly decided to move to Brandon in 1999. Even then Jack continued to volunteer, to the best of his ability, whenever help was needed by any of the organizations he held so dear, and he was always available to family and friends in need. He also faithfully “pumped iron” so that his upper body would remain strong and he would be able to help his caregivers, to whom he was always so appreciative. Jack’s trust in God was unfailing, even when events in his life were difficult. He had a deep faith that became more apparent to others as he neared the end of his life, and he found great comfort in prayer and in receiving the Sacraments. Jack died very peacefully at home surrounded by the love of family, with his ever-faithful little dog, Muffy, at his side. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, 327-4th Street, on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Dominic Yuen as Celebrant. Cremation will follow and a private interment of Jack’s ashes will be held at a later date. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.If friends so desire, donations may be made to any of Jack’s organizations mentioned above.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 01, 2009