My dear Uncle Jack, passed away November 22, 2013 at the age of 98. He is being interred tomorrow in BC. My family is unable to attend the memorial service, so this is the tribute I made to honour him. This doesn't even begin to sum up what he meant to my daughter and I, but he was a wonderful man who was like a father to me.

1. John William “Jack” AndersonJohn William “Jack” Anderson
August 17, 1915 – November 22, 2013August 17, 1915 – November 22, 2013

2. Jack may have been my uncle,Jack may have been my uncle,
but he was so much more thanbut he was so much more than
that to me – he was mythat to me – he was my
second dad, my godfather,second dad, my godfather,
and one of very few stable,and one of very few stable,
calming influences during mycalming influences during my
childhoodchildhood

3. Jack was a husband, aJack was a husband, a
father, a grandfather, afather, a grandfather, a
great-grandfather, angreat-grandfather, an
uncle, a great-uncle, auncle, a great-uncle, a
son, a brother, a friend,son, a brother, a friend,
a WWII veteran, and aa WWII veteran, and a
deputy fire chief – just todeputy fire chief – just to
name a few.name a few.

4. Jack served in WWII with the 77Jack served in WWII with the 77thth
Battery, and he attained the rank ofBattery, and he attained the rank of
Sgt. MajorSgt. Major

5. Uncle Jack may haveUncle Jack may have
been a war hero, but,been a war hero, but,
more importantly, he wasmore importantly, he was
MY hero.MY hero.

6. Following the war, JackFollowing the war, Jack
returned to his hometown ofreturned to his hometown of
Moose Jaw where heMoose Jaw where he
worked for the Fireworked for the Fire
Department and wasDepartment and was
promoted to Deputy Firepromoted to Deputy Fire
ChiefChief

7. Jack took me, year after year, to the children’sJack took me, year after year, to the children’s
Christmas party at the fire hall. He loved me like aChristmas party at the fire hall. He loved me like a
daughter, and he showed that in so many differentdaughter, and he showed that in so many different
ways.ways.

8. I wanted to be aI wanted to be a
firefighter justfirefighter just
like Jack – he gotlike Jack – he got
me my ownme my own
plastic redplastic red
fireman’s hat tofireman’s hat to
wear.wear.

9. Uncle Jack was married to my dad’sUncle Jack was married to my dad’s
sister, my Aunt Eileen. During mysister, my Aunt Eileen. During my
growing up years, we lived next doorgrowing up years, we lived next door
to “Jack and Auntie” as I called themto “Jack and Auntie” as I called them
and I spent a lot of time at their home.and I spent a lot of time at their home.

14. Jack loved to fish, and he loved hisJack loved to fish, and he loved his
dog, Kellydog, Kelly

17. Uncle Jack was more like a second father toUncle Jack was more like a second father to
me, than an uncle – right from the day I wasme, than an uncle – right from the day I was
born – he gave my first bath as a newbornborn – he gave my first bath as a newborn
baby.baby.

20. I wanted to be a firefighter just like Jack. I couldI wanted to be a firefighter just like Jack. I could
often be seen wearing his deputy fire chief hat.often be seen wearing his deputy fire chief hat.

21. Sadly, Jack and my aunt EileenSadly, Jack and my aunt Eileen
divorced. He retired to Britishdivorced. He retired to British
Columbia, where he met andColumbia, where he met and
married Lee, and the two ofmarried Lee, and the two of
them spent many happy yearsthem spent many happy years
together until Lee’s passing intogether until Lee’s passing in
2010.2010.

23. Jack came back to Moose Jaw everyJack came back to Moose Jaw every
September, for the annual 77September, for the annual 77thth
BatteryBattery
reunion – and also to see me.reunion – and also to see me.
Every year, he would take me on aEvery year, he would take me on a
date to Bonanza for supper and hedate to Bonanza for supper and he
would take me shopping for a back-would take me shopping for a back-
to-school outfit. I looked forward toto-school outfit. I looked forward to
these visits. I missed him so muchthese visits. I missed him so much
when he moved to BC, and evenwhen he moved to BC, and even
more so once my dad passed away inmore so once my dad passed away in
1983.1983.

25. Jack treated me like his very own daughter.Jack treated me like his very own daughter.
He even made sure I had money toHe even made sure I had money to
purchase a dress for my high schoolpurchase a dress for my high school
graduation in 1988.graduation in 1988.

26. And he did the same for Rachel’sAnd he did the same for Rachel’s
grade 6 graduation in 2012.grade 6 graduation in 2012.

27. Jack & Lee came back toJack & Lee came back to
Moose Jaw for myMoose Jaw for my
wedding in 1993; hewedding in 1993; he
gave the toast to thegave the toast to the
bridebride

28.  Uncle Jack was believedUncle Jack was believed
to be the last survivingto be the last surviving
member of the 77member of the 77thth
BatteryBattery
 In 2006, he was honouredIn 2006, he was honoured
to be one of only 69to be one of only 69
Canadians to receive theCanadians to receive the
Minister of VeteransMinister of Veterans
Affairs SpecialAffairs Special
Commendation for serviceCommendation for service
to other veteransto other veterans

29. We did not get out to visit Uncle Jack nearly asWe did not get out to visit Uncle Jack nearly as
often as we would have liked to, but we wereoften as we would have liked to, but we were
blessed to be able to go and visit in 2001…blessed to be able to go and visit in 2001…

32. ……and also in 2010and also in 2010

40. Thanks to Sue, we were kept constantly updated on Jack’sThanks to Sue, we were kept constantly updated on Jack’s
health and well-being, and even received the occasionalhealth and well-being, and even received the occasional
picture update – these were much appreciated since wepicture update – these were much appreciated since we
could not be there in person.could not be there in person.

42. This man survived fighting in a WorldThis man survived fighting in a World
War, quadruple bypass surgery, andWar, quadruple bypass surgery, and
a battle with C-Difficile, just to name aa battle with C-Difficile, just to name a
few. He was a war veteran, afew. He was a war veteran, a
firefighter, and like a father to me andfirefighter, and like a father to me and
grandfather to Rachel. To me, he wasgrandfather to Rachel. To me, he was
a hero and words cannot expressa hero and words cannot express
how much we miss him, every singlehow much we miss him, every single
day.day.

43. On November 22, 2013, Uncle Jack passed away after aOn November 22, 2013, Uncle Jack passed away after a
brief illness but long, full life.brief illness but long, full life.
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, he will be interred at his finalOn Saturday, May 24, 2014, he will be interred at his final
resting place.resting place.

44. Loved and missed,Loved and missed, nevernever forgottenforgotten