A Celebration a life for Jack will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2014 1:00 p.m. Foam Lake United Church Foam Lake, Sk. Private family interment at a later date. Those wishing to sign the guestbook or leave an online condolence may do so via this website. VIRGIN, John (Jack), father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to many was born on October 10, 1922 on a homestead farm about 5-1/2 miles southwest of Foam Lake. He was the 6th child of nine children of Foam Lake pioneers, Frederick Arthur James Virgin and Edith Ida (nee Duck) Virgin. He is predeceased by his parents, Frederick (1967) and Edith (1973) and his brothers, Victor (1991) and Kenneth (2011) and his sisters, Kathleen (1988) and Violet (2004) and Edith Lillian (2011). He is survived by his six children, Merv Madill, Jane (Garry) Deters , Susan (Larry) Altman, Angela (Dennis) Polonich, Caroline Virgin, David (Stacey) Virgin, seven grandchildren, Thea and Desmond Madill, Monica Deters, Jade McClendon and Lauren Polonich , Giles and Cassandra Virgin and three great grandchildren Jaysha, Niko,and Tayo McClendon. His brothers, Ernest (Lorea) Virgin of Victoria, BC., Richard (Dick) (Virginia) Virgin of Edmonton, AB and sister, Irene Stoddart of Sidney, BC,as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jack farmed on the homestead land and land of his own for many years. As bachelors, Jack and his brother Ken set up the Shadee Coulee Hereford Farm where they raised award winning polled herefords. He met and married a widow with two sets of twins, Christine Mary (Duckham) Madill on June 13, 1964. He and Chris made their home in the community of Foam Lake. Another set of twins was born to them to complete their family of six children. Jack was involved with the Foam Lake Elks for over 50 years and sat on various committees. He possessed a strong loyalty to the town of Foam Lake and its citizens. Jack had a green thumb and produced bounds of fresh vegetables and flowers which were generously shared with organizations and townsfolk. His love for Chris, his children and other family members was always apparent and unyielding. People were attracted to him by his ever positive attitude and flair for social interaction. Jack was an avid card player and passed his skills on to a number of the family members through his patient instruction. The service will be held at the Foam Lake United Church at 1:00 Tuesday, April 22 with Roland Legge officiating. A reception will be held at the Foam Lake Legion Hall immediately following the service. Arrangements entrusted to Narfason's Funeral Chapel. Private family interment at a later date. Those wishing to make donations may do so either to the Foam Lake Seniors Center or the Foam Lake Elks. Eulogy: Good afternoon everyone, My name is Merv Madill, Jack Virgin's stepson. I am honored to speak on behalf of my siblings. Our family was blessed with a great dad, stepdad, and a great friend! Yes, our hearts are feeling empty, but our memory bank is so so full of happy loving memories. Jack was the sixth of a family of 9 children. He grew up and attended school at Kelvin Grove, southwest of town. After his Mom and Dad left the homestead which was about 5 1/2 miles west of town, Jack and his brother Ken started the Shadee Coulee Hereford farm, raising polled Herefords. Jack had an amazing memory and told us stories about his boyhood days, learning many things from his dad and mom including beekeeping, animal husbandry, grain farming, hard work, and life values. Jane, myself ,Suse ,and Ang were bereft of our dad when he was 42 years old. We were blessed when our mom Chris married Jack 2 years later. We soon had a new brother and sister, David and Caroline. Jack and I became good buddies going to Shadee Coulee to feed the cattle after school and on weekends. Our friendship gelled. He was a man of his word, honest and respectful, patient and kind, and full of integrity. It didn't end there, his brothers and sisters were of the same ilk. He was a real Dad to me and I loved him. He was " the Glue" for the family. He and Mom took turns teaching us all life values and good manners which we are so grateful for. He was very skilled at cribbage, bridge, three spot, and checkers. He patiently taught the family and some grandchildren cribbage and checkers. Jack was an avid curler, and a respected member of The Elks organization and was recently awarded his 50 year pin. He enjoyed participating in the fund raising that the Elks did for the community. His great hobby was the flower garden at the family home at 219 Forget. It would all start in the cold months of February when Mom and Jack would order up seeds from seed catalogues and get the flowering plants growing in the little greenhouse at the back of the garage. Then the real garden for veggies, potatoes and fruit got going in May. The fruits of their labour blossomed over June, July and August and then in September their hearts were warmed by sharing their produce with friends and the nursing home and making care packages for us kids when we left on the Sunday's to go back to the city. In the late 1980s we started going on an annual fishing trip to The Pas area. We later made Cormorant Lake, Manitoba our Annual Fishing Trip lake of choice. Mom and Jack would be sure " the men" had plenty of food and planning was done well in advance. These 4 day annual trips left huge memories for Dad and us boys. Jack loved music (not classics) but old time dance music. He loved to dance the chateese, two step, seven step, heel toe polka, and old time waltzes. He enjoyed good old clean fun. Now Jack unfortunately couldn't always rely on his buddies to follow through with their plans. One year in may ,Alf Pysden and Charlie Stevenson arranged to go to a political fundraising supper in Yorkton. The three unknowingly ended up getting seated in a dinner hall. Having arrived early they watched as young people filed in to take seats. Charlie quipped "its sure nice to see the young folks taking a keen interest in the political party." A few minutes later a gentleman rose to give a toast to the graduands. Red faced and tails between their legs but with full bellies, they slithered out and found the right meeting place across the street. In the last year as Jack became admittedly less nimble and his life more empty with Mom's passing, he needed assisted living. Last fall he was thankfully placed in the Foam Lake Nursing Home which was a huge blessing. His physical and social needs were now met and his life took on a new dimension. He connected with residents and staff he knew. It was the icing on the cake to see him so happy and so well cared for by a caring, competent staff. Two of his favorite sayings that applies to our lives on a daily basis: 1. "It is so easy to criticize but oh so hard to say something nice" 2. "It costs no more to be be happy, than it is to be miserable." May I take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the nursing home for their compassionate, competent care for our Dad. -To Suse and Larry for all the Sunday dinners at the farm and the daily check ins. - to Jack's neighbors and friends who checked in with him after Mom died. -To Roland Legge for meeting and spending time with our Dad. -Thank you to the UC choir for adding music to our hearts. -Thank you to the UCL for coordinating and providing the after service luncheon. - to Narfason's for their empathy to our empty hearts and taking care of our departed dad. ?I'm a thousand winds ? Do not stand at my grave and weep; I'm not there, l do not sleep. I'm a thousand winds that blow. I'm the diamond glints on snow. I'm the sunlight on ripened grain. I'm the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I'm the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I'm the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I'm not there, l did not die. Thankyou,Thankyou,Thankyou Jack. I will never forget you or those strong manly handshakes.