Mr. John Adrian Porter – Dad, Grandpa, Poppa Jack – passed away peacefully Jan. 21, 2016 with his family by his side, after a long life spent with his late wife Gert, family and friends here in Northwestern Ontario. Jack was born in Norman, Ontario on Nov. 15, 1926 and grew up in Kenora and Fort Frances at a time when there was a lot of hard work to be done and joy to be had getting into boyish pranks and listening to hockey on the radio. A veteran of the Second World War, he served overseas in the Royal Canadian Navy. Once home, Jack married Gertie Rahkola, the love of his life, in 1947. They began raising their family in Marathon, where he worked at the mill, and would instill a strong work ethic in the younger generations: "Them that works, eats!" Jack retired from Great Lakes Forest Products in Thunder Bay in 1987 as a Superintendent. Jack’s greatest love was his family and he was very proud of his four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed the outdoors and fishing, but his real passion was tending his huge gardens on South Windermere and in Slate River, and helping with the garden at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. Jack could always tell a good yarn, make the grandkids laugh with his “evil eye” and “bogeyman”, and gather family around the table with the hearty meals he cooked. He will be deeply missed and his stories will live on in the hearts of his daughters Jan Scott and Lorna Veal, sons Jack (Marilyn) and Bob (Susan), his grandchildren Sharon, Kevin, Dave, Jimmy, Jenny, Katie, Annie, Jane, Meghan and Jacob, and great-grandchildren Kaylea, Ben, Claire, Owen, Connor, Alexander, Andy, Davey, Charlie and James, as well as sister-in-law Lois Porter and many relatives and friends. He was pre-deceased by Gert, his parents John and Flossie, his sister Joyce Cranston, brothers Ed and Alan Porter, sons-in-law Jim Veal and Ron Scott, sister-in-law Bernice Porter and brother-in-law Stan Cranston. David Stezenko will lead a service to celebrate Jack’s life on Tues. Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street, before he is laid to rest at Stanley Hill Cemetery beside his beloved Gert. Those wishing to share condolences can do so at www.sargentandson.com, and donations to the Salvation Army would be appreciated.

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