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JACK AMBLER

JACK AMBLER

Date de décès : 23 février 2013

Dad passed away peacefully in the Veterans Ward of the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the age of 90. He is survived by his children Jacqueline, Jack (Jill) and Dawn; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his sister Gladys of England; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Anastasia “Nel” after 64 years of marriage in 2011; her siblings Peter, Anne and Bill; his youngest brother George; and parents George and Jane Ambler.

Dad was born on December 26, 1922 in Tong, Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He left school early to work in the woollen mills to help support his family. Always fascinated by flight, he took a glider course at the age of 16 that ultimately led to him being accepted into the Royal Air Force in 1942. He was sent to Canada in 1943 for flight training in DeWinton, AB, followed by more training in Moose Jaw, SK where he met Mom at a dance at Temple Gardens. He always said he knew by the first dance he was going to marry her. Dad served in the RAF until 1946 as a DC3 pilot transporting supplies and gliders over the battlefields of Holland, Belgium, France and over the Rhine. Post WWII he was stationed in Burma and flew out some of the first survivors of the Bridge over the River Kwai.

In 1947 Mom went to England to marry Dad and they eventually returned to Canada permanently in 1949. Mom and Dad loved to travel and made many trips throughout the world. Dad continued to travel after Mom’s passing, most recently in May 2012 to show Jacqueline the places he flew into during WWII.

Dad joined the RCAF Association in 1951 and served in various positions through to President. From 1957 through 1962 he was Commanding Officer for 40 Squadron of the Moose Jaw Royal Canadian Air Cadets, commissioned in the RCAF Reserves. Throughout the years Dad pursued higher education and earned a Certificate of Business Administration from the University of Regina. He served the United Way for 28 years, first in Moose Jaw, then Charlottetown, PEI and lastly in Regina before retiring.

Dad always helped those who were in need, never asking for anything in return. He was a strong community supporter who served in many volunteer capacities including being a founding member of the City of Regina Community Grants Review Board, a founding member and volunteer manager of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation and a founding member of the 600 Wing RCAFA Veterans Association. He was a volunteer consultant with the Canadian Executive Services Organization, completing five projects including ones in Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and for the First Nations in Saskatchewan. Dad was a member of the #11 North West Mounted Police Lodge, A.F. & A.M.G.R.S., a member of the South Zone Seniors Recreation Board and a volunteer organizer for their many bus tours throughout North America. As a member of the Board of the Society for Children with Emotional Problems, he was selected Volunteer of the year in 1993. He was Chairman of the Battle of Britain Commemorative Committee and he served on the City of Regina Transit Advisory Board from 2003 - 2009.

Dad received many awards and accolades for his service to the community. Some of those awards were the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, the Canada 125 Commemorative Medal, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, the Memorial Medal of Honour from the Netherlands Airborne Commemorative Foundation, the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for volunteer work with veterans, the 2009 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal and most recently, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Dad was on the Committee that built the WWII Memorial on the Legislative Grounds and then he created a scale replica which can be seen in the upper lobby of the Regina Airport. He firmly believed that those who lost their lives in duty to their country should be recognized for their gallantry and continued to promote the Saskatchewan War Memorial Project and Website until his illness prevented him from further volunteering with the project. He also headed up the committee to commemorate the Battle of Britain every September, to ensure that future generations would not forget the sacrifices made.

The family would like to express their thanks to his many friends that visited him through his illness, to Dr. Sarah Liskowich as well as the staff of Veterans Ward 3-5, Wascana Rehabilitation Centre for caring for Dad, he loved you all.

Funeral Service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow at the Royal United Services Institute, 1660 Elphinstone Street, Regina. Interment at the Rosedale Cemetary in Moose Jaw. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack & Anastasia Ambler Fund, South Saskatchewan Community Foundation Inc., 2-2700 Montague Street, Regina, SK, S4S 0J9. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com

 

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