Obituary of Jack Britton
Jack was born to William and Daisy (nee Goulden) Britton at Yorkton, Saskatchewan on November 30th, 1935. He and his siblings (Gene, Joyce and Joan) resided at Homefield, Saskatchewan until 1945 at which time the family moved to Rokeby to start dairy farming. As a youth, Jack had a great love of horses and spent a short time as a jockey. Many summer weekends were spent at sports day events in surrounding communities.
Jack received his education in Rokeby, Yorkton Collegiate Institute, and Teachers College in Moose Jaw. He taught for several years in Clyde, Sask. and Regina, Sask. after which he applied for a teaching position within the military. He was convinced instead to join the air force and became a jet pilot, as those positions were in demand. Jack graduated with the rank of Fly Officer and Jet Pilot on December 12th, 1958 from Portage LaPrairie Royal Canadian Air Force. He was then stationed overseas in Germany, however upon the closure of the German air base, Jack made his way back to Canada with a temporary stop at an air base near Nottingham, England. It was here that he met his wife, Lillian Green. They were engaged on February 11th , 1960 and married on April 30th, 1960. They returned to Canada where Jack took a teaching job in Churchbridge, Sask. and he and Lillian started their family of five children. In 1962 after a period of summer work at the IMC potash mine in Esterhazy, Jack began his thirty-eight-year career at IMC.
Life in Churchbridge involved heading up a project of getting a swimming pool built, curling bonspiels, attending his children’s sporting activities, yearly fishing and camping trips, along with great times with family and friends. In 1976 Jack and Lillian relocated to Rokeby where he built the family swimming pool which provided many more great memories for the children. Jack always had his camera in hand to capture the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He took pictures of everything and was often referred to by his family as the “Paparazzi”.
Upon retirement on July 31st, 2000, Jack took pleasure in planting flowers, working in his garden, golfing with his family at Cherrydale Golf Course, and tinkering on projects in his garage. He was a MacGuyver or “Jack of all trades”, as he could find a fix for anything. He also loved to watch sporting events on TV (his favourite being baseball) while he worked away at his crossword puzzles. His computer tablet also became a great joy to him in his later years. Jack was kind, gentle, generous, and trusting. He never complained and always thought of others before himself. Never wanting to be a burden to anyone, he continued to be as independent as possible for as long as he could.
Jack passed away peacefully on Monday, October 9th, 2023 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. He was 87 years of age. Jack was predeceased by his son Wade, grandson Kristian Konan, siblings Joyce (John) Miller and Gene Britton. Left to cherish his memories are his wife Lillian, son Shane (Meraphy) Britton, daughters Melody (Larry) Konan, Michelle (Paul) Hoffman, Mona Britton, his eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Also, his sister Joan (Lance) Buckmaster, along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
A family Graveside Service was held on October 14th, 2023 from the Garden of St. Matthew, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Crystal Bailey, Certified Celebrant officiating. Shane Britton was the urn bearer. Krystalee Fahlman read the poem Grandfather Kept a Garden.
