Jack passed away peacefully on September 4, 2021 at Cascade Lodge in Chilliwack. He is survived by his loving wife and life partner of 51 years, Terry.
Home is where the heart is, and Jack absolutely loved being at home. That’s where you’d find him on any given day, in his big overstuffed LazyBoy chair, TV remote to his right, a bag of Werthers on the left. Over to the left was also Terry’s chair. She was never far from sight. For over 50 years, it would only be at the end that they would be separated for any length of time. For four months whenever she entered his room at hospice, his face lit up like it had done every day prior. When she left, he knew he wasn’t going with her, that this was his new home. He grew to love his beautiful little room.
When he first said “I got lucky when I got this room”, something sounded oddly familiar, as if we heard that statement somewhere before. It didn’t take us long to realize we actually heard it many times throughout our lives, but just a little differently. What he said was, “I got lucky when I met your Mom”. He really did love her with all his heart.
And what a big heart he had! He spent 88 years living fully, loving deeply, laughing a lot, and learning how to get out of the doghouse. Even though he’d say “I don’t know how your mom puts up with me!”, he’d be the first to give you a hug, try to make you smile, compliment you, clap at a job well done, buy
you a beer, and make you laugh.
It was Jack’s sense of humour that we all loved most. He was witty, playful, and very punny, he made us laugh at even the smallest of things. He ALWAYS managed to find something to lovingly taunt and tease us about or poke fun at. We all got our fair share over the years, and when the dust settled and his chosen target thought he’d had his fill, he’d HAVE to squeeze in just one more when you’d least expect it, to which we’d groan and roll our eyes, but he’d smile and famously say, “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone! I’m gonna be an Angel one day!” …. And then one day came.
Jack had enjoyed excellent health and kept active for 85 of his 88 years. Born and raised in Jasper, Alberta, and the oldest of four children (to Jock and Babs Grassick), he could take his sister and brothers or go off with friends 15 minutes in any direction from the heart of town and there’d be something fun to do, swimming in the lakes, hiking on the trails, skiing the mountains, or fishing in the river. Most of his adult life he would walk wherever he wanted to go, uphill, downhill, roads, lanes, gravel, grass, and highways. In Burnaby, once a week he’d walk the 4km to the Legion 83 for a beer and a chat with the boys, he’d call Terry for the return trip though. Good choice. Once he retired, he enthusiastically worked his 5 acres; pulling, hauling, wheeling, digging, and chopping. He was always on the go.
It was the past three years that would significantly and continuously slow Jack down. He was hit with a series of serious health issues, one right after another, and because he wasn’t able to fully recover from the previous one, it would be that big ol’ heart that couldn’t bear the weight of his combined illnesses.
His quick wit and sense of humour remained up until the end his one big regret in life was that he didn’t eat more blueberry fritters at Tim Hortons before they took them off the menu. And we’re happy to report that FINALLY in the 4th month of his hospice stay he gave in and took his pills without a fuss. Did we
mention he had a bit of a stubborn streak?
It was retirement that brought Jack to Chilliwack, who eagerly looked forward to and swore to never answer a phone again after being on-call for 39 years with the CNR. And he was a man of his word, he may have answered all of a dozen times in the 31 years he spent in retirement. It was in the 80’s that Jack
and Terry bought the 5 beautiful acres of land nestled in the lower Fraser Valley off Chilliwack Lake Road. They built their dream home in 1990, leaving Burnaby on yet another new adventure together. And what an adventure they’d have, Jack would say he had the absolute best retirement anyone could ask for, they were the best years of his life. He enjoyed every minute of it.
Being an avid gardener for 40 years, having the 5 acres was like giving a painter a blank canvas; Jack would build a greenhouse, dig out a fish pond, plant fruit trees and fruit bushes, create beautiful flower beds and fill them with thousands of Dahlias, they were his “thing”. On any given day you’d see him
outside, dead-heading, picking weeds, watering, fertilizing, and trimming; and for years and years you’d often see a grandkid or two trailing close behind him, eagerly asking if they could help or just happily chatting away. He would be proud of his grandson and namesake and the way he is following in his
Grandpa’s footsteps with the same passion and purpose.
Jack was good to, cared for, joked with, played with, spoiled, and shared Jube Jubes with all his grandchildren, as he did with his children before them. He was a loving husband, a big brother to 3, a devoted father of 6, a doting grandfather to 11, and a great-grandfather to 5 boys and 1 girl. His focus on family remained strong throughout his life, and he would be the first to step in or step up to help any family member. To him, the door to his home was always open, there was always a seat at the table, and a cold beer and comfy chair by the firepit.
Jack and Terry’s home was always a busy place where family would frequently gather; birthdays, holidays, barbeques, Grey Cup and Stanley Cup parties, vacations, and even Family Reunions where there’d be 4 generations spread out in trailers and tents all over the 5 acres. Jack absolutely loved to socialize and mingle in a crowd, any crowd, the more people there were, the merrier he became. And he could talk with anyone, anywhere, at any time.
From the time they met Jack and Terry shared a love for long road trips, driving throughout Canada, West Coast to East Coast, and into the United States. When Terry and Jack travelled to the East Coast and returned home, Jack chatted away about their vacation and told us of a walk he took in one of the
towns in Newfoundland. In his travels he met a fellow and stopped for a chat. He immediately discovered he barely could make out what his new friend was saying, his accent was so thick, but that didn’t stop him, they talked and laughed for quite some time, then went their separate way. That was Jack.
When not with family, he’d be happily socializing at the Army and Navy Veterans Club (Anavets) with a pint of draft in one hand and a microphone in the other. Jack volunteered and managed the Meat Draw and entertained the crowd over the mike for 24 years. We loved how happy he’d be when one of us
showed up announced on a Friday or Saturday, and just how quick he’d find a chair and squish it in at his already full table. Within minutes we’d have our favourite drink, a handful of draw tickets, and a beaming old man in front of us. He took every opportunity to pamper those he loved, and we knew we were loved. Jack would hang up his volunteer hat just this past December, and to us, the Club is “Jack’s Place”, it’ll never be the same without him.
We’d like to share with you Jack’s 3 final wish list:
1) Play “Immortality” by Celine Dion and the Bee Gees
2) Go to the Anavets, ring the bell and buy a round for the house on me
3) Spread my ashes over the 5 acres
Don’t remember me with sadness, don’t remember me with tears
Remember all the laughter we shared throughout the years
Just know that I am quite content, my life it was worthwhile
I loved, I laughed, and most of all, I made somebody smile
My family meant everything, there’s none that could compare
Christmas, birthdays, barbeques, the many beers we shared
When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not here to see
Just know that I'm your Angel now, like I always said I’d be
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