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JOHN DONALD AIRD
Born: Jul 25, 1936
Date of Passing: Oct 27, 2015
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryJOHN (JACK) DONALD AIRD July 25, 1936 - October 27, 2015 Peacefully on October 27, 2015, Jack Aird passed away at St. Michael's Health Centre in Lethbridge, AB at the age of 79. Remembering him fondly are his two sisters Catherine Fasano and Irene (Norm) Bullen; sister-in-law Teri Aird; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families, and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents Donald and Angela, his older brother Ron and brother-in-law Thom Fasano. Jack was born in Winnipeg in 1936, the youngest of four children. He was a lovely, fair haired baby, and his photo once won a contest hosted by the Eaton's Department Store. He grew up in the West End on Victor St., playing hockey in the winter, with summers spent on his aunts farms in Treherne and Notre Dame de Lourdes. Jack attended John M. King School, General Wolfe Junior High School, and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, graduating in 1954. After graduation Jack worked as a surveyor for the Northern Hydro camps. A family trip to the Calgary Stampede when Jack was a teenager started a life long love affair with Alberta and the West, and he moved to Calgary in 1957. He started out driving a cab for his cousin, eventually buying his own cab and operating it for several years. Jack was always a man of independent means. He eventually relocated to Magrath, Alberta where he purchased and operated the local movie theatre, showing movies on weekends for the kids in town for many years. He also established the town bottle depots in Magrath and Raymond, recycling glass bottles folks dropped off or that he discovered during his outings. Jack had a passion for collecting "treasure", old cars, and travelling. He took many trips in his lifetime, always by car so he could enjoy the scenery and the towns along the way. He lived independently until September 2011 when he entered the Good Samaritan's Home in Magrath. From there he moved to St. Michael's Health Centre in Lethbridge in 2014, where he enjoyed the company of his fellow residents until his passing. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service is planned for Friday, December 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Ave.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 05, 2015
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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I remember visiting with Uncle Jack in Calgary when he was living by the Bow River and driving a Cab. He also helped me move to Vancouver. We drove from Magrath to Vancouver and he took the bus home in 1978. He was also a good storyteller and he talked about Sweetwater and Waterton National Park and his survey work in his early days as well later on, he was still very interested in current topics he was on Classmates and had connected with some former classmates, he called himself Happy Jack. Thanks for the Memories Uncle Jack, RIP - Posted by: Patricia Bulen (Niece) on: Feb 08, 2020
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Jack was a friend from junior high and high school days. A good and loyal friend - Posted by: Mervin Millward (school friend) on: Dec 11, 2015
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I remember: Victor Street, '34 Ford, Mosberg .22, Treherne, broken collar bone, answer to grade 11 test question on Oliver Twist, sharing True magazines, seeing Jack run against Jim Forsyth, neighbourhood football games in front of the sign board at night on Victor & Ellice, his desire to live in Alberta, sending him a bottle of vodka in a loaf of bread when he was surveying in northern Alberta, and seeing him last when we were in our late 20's. I think Jack lived the independent life he wanted to live. I think of him fondlly - Posted by: Bud Bion (friend) on: Dec 11, 2015
