Jack was born in the small town of Listowel Ontario, in the area where his paternal grandfather settled farming in the 1800’s.
He spent his early years in Toronto, near the then garment district area around King and Spadina streets.
An area once full of tenements and has now been gentrified as part of the entertainment district.
Jacks father was killed in an industrial accident, and Jack subsequently lived with his maternal grandparents for a time, then with his mother and stepfather, settling on the Niagara Peninsula.
Following High School, Jack enlisted in the Canadian Navy (then known as the Royal Canadian Navy), serving through the Korean War and the Cuban missile crisis.
Jack left the Navy in 1963, having attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer, and the nickname ‘Chief’ which followed him the rest of his life.
While in the navy, Jack met and married Elizabeth Pennington (nee Kindt) December 27, 1952, from Chippawa Ontario.
They have two Children, Michael Pennington and Ilona Somers (nee Pennington).
On leaving the navy, Jack was employed by the defense industry, in which he worked until he retired in 1992.In 1971, Jack moved the entire family to Salt Lake City Utah, in continuance of his career, and became a US Citizen.
In 2011, Jack moved to Winnemucca Nevada to be closer to family, Ilona Somers, and in 2019 at advanced age, was placed in a nursing home with his wife Elizabeth, where he died from complications of COVID-19.
Jack is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth, his children Michael, and Ilona, 14 Grandchildren (including one grandchild that preceded him in death), and 27 great grandchildren.
Jacks last request is to be cremated and to be buried next to his father in Niagara Falls Canada.
Due to the current rampant spread of the Corona Virus, no plans have yet been set for an in-person celebration of life for Jack, due to the high risk for traveling and for attendees.
Jack was a Christian, a Free Mason and a Shriner. As a Shriner he worked diligently in support of Shriner Hospitals, donating money himself and working with Shriner events to help funding.
The family would request that those who would send flowers would instead donate to the Shriner’s Hospitals in support of their selfless medical care at no cost for children.
