JOHN {JACK} DOUGLAS RENNIE
On the evening of August 31st with family by his side, our beloved father and friend of many, left this world behind. Jack grew up in the small Saskatchewan town of Abbey. He joined the air force in 1942 and was sent overseas the following year. Flying Lancaster Bombers, Jack was the bombardier in a crew of seven. On his 23rd birthday his plane was shot down during a mass bombing raid over Berlin and Jack endured the suffering as a POW until the end of the war. The highlight of his liberation was a reunion with his sister Shirley who as a wireless operator with the CWAC, was coincidently stationed in England. When Jack was discharged from service, he enrolled at U of S in 1945 and in 1949 graduated with his B.SC. in Agriculture. Upon graduation, he and his wife Joyce (Russell) Rennie, made their permanent home in Regina. He specialized in Dairy Science and became a long time employee with Saskatchewan Agriculture as one of two dairy specialist’s for the province. In 1978, he transitioned to Dairy Producers Co-op as their Production Manager; a position he held until retirement in 1987. Throughout his career, Jack was also actively involved in St. Andrews United Church and served in many capacities in this regard. He was a Grand Officer and Past Master of the Mason’s; an active member of the Eastern Star and an executive member of the R.C.A.F. Association. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for some seventy two years; his commitment to the Legion Branch #001 for some fifty five years was unwavering. He was devoted to visiting veterans regularly and was tireless in his efforts to promote the yearly poppy drive. He dedicated ten years to the War Memorial Project acknowledging those lost in service in the First and Second World War as well as Korea. Jack is survived by his first wife, Joyce (Russell) Rennie and their five children: Elaine (Terry); Doug (Jane) and their children Katelyn, Megan, Ben; Bill (Mary Ellen) and their children Sarah, Trisha (Tyler); Margaret (Brian) Cummings and their children, Luke Cummings, Renee (Tyler) Beyer and their children Hudson and Abby; Cam (Sheila) and their children Derek (Emily), Adrian (Alyssa). He is predeceased by his parents Alex and Madge Rennie; sister Shirley Marcoux; brothers-in-law, Guy Marcoux, Bert Culham, Gordon McLeod; his second wife Edith Thompson; and war buddy and special friend Arthur (Bonnie) Bonikowsky. Jack is remembered for his enduring qualities of care, compassion and dedication to his family, his church and his fellow man. He is the recipient of many, many awards ...including, but not limited to Royal Canadian Legion Life Membership, Meritorious medal and Palm Leaf, and the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal......a testament and a tribute to his 94 years. A "Celebration" Service will be held at Knox Metropolitan United Church, 2340 Victoria Avenue, Regina SK on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Interment to follow at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery. Flowers most gratefully declined. Friends so wishing may make a donation in Jack’s memory, to the Royal Canadian Legion Command Poppy Drive, 1820 Cornwall Street, Regina SK, S4P 2K2 or a charity of their choice. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com