John Arthur Blair

On May 25, 2018 Jack Blair of Swan River, formerly of Minitonas passed away at the age of 88 years.  He was born John Arthur Blair, February 27, 1930 in Cereal, Alberta.  One of five children, he grew up in the prairie town of Naco, Alberta with his four brothers and sisters.  He worked for the Toronto Dominion Bank for 37 and a half years, working in fourteen communities in the four western provinces.  Appointed manager in Minitonas in 1966, he worked there until his retirement.  It was in the early years at the bank in Preeceville, Saskatchewan that he met a teller who became his wife of 61 years, Elaine Boyko.  They married May 4, 1957 and had four daughters, Wynne, Johnna, Delmarie and Sandee.

He was a doting husband, father and father-in-law and grandfather.  He was his happiest when his whole family was together and found particular joy in his six grandchildren.

Jack was a quiet, cheerful and contented man with a smile and a friendly word for everyone.  He enjoyed hockey, curling and loved to golf.  He and Elaine were active members of the Minitonas United Church where he enjoyed singing in the choir.  He was a Mason and a proud Legion member.  He had a great sense of humour and a strong sense of loyalty and kindness.

Jack is pre-deceased by his parents Oliver and Hazel Blair, by his parents-in-law Theodore and Stella Boyko; by his brothers Joffre and Doug and sister Doris; by his sisters-in-law Lucy and Nadine; and by his daughter Johnna just this past August.  Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 61 years Elaine; his daughter Wynne Kerr, her husband Ron and daughter Kaitlyn; Johnna’s husband Dale Bertram and daughter Samantha and son Jesse; daughter Delmarie McMillan and her husband Bruce and their son Kyle (Alexandria); his daughter Sandee Blair and her husband Rod Miller and daughters Julia and Rachel; his sister Bobby, sisters-in-law Agnes Swan (Lyle) and Pat Blair; relatives-in-law and friends and neighbours who remember him fondly.

The family would like to thank the many people of this community who have been so helpful to Dad in recent years as his dementia caused him confusion, and appreciate that so many responded with kindness.

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