Jack Henry Mitchell, CD

Surrounded by the love of family, it is with great sadness that we announce our Dad’s passing on Monday, May 24, 2021 at the age of 84 years.  Cherished husband of the late Audrey  Mitchell (nee Annon).  Beloved father of Jamie  (Terri), Shannon (Randy) and the late Bradley.  Grandfather of Chelsea,  Alex (Sarah),  Jesse (Sandrine), the late Jason.  Great-grandfather to Jeremy.  Brother of  Richard (Dallas).  He is predeceased by his father Ralph, mother Dorothy and brother Howard (Beverly). 

A proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces,  Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, for 25 years he finished off his career working for the Department of National Defence.

A true extrovert, Dad owned every room he walked into.  His larger than life personality will be greatly missed, but we find comfort knowing he is united with the love of his life, our Mom.

We would like to thank the nurses, PSW’s and other staff at the Portobello Manor for your care and kind gestures during his short time with you.  He recognized how hard your job is and appreciated everything you did for him.  You were all ‘Number One’ in his books.  

A private graveside service will be held at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces on Thursday, June 3^rd at 11am.  In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Eulogy

Dad was born and raised in Alberta but struck out at a young age to make his way to BC where he joined the Army on a whim, looking for a good meal and some spiffy clothes to impress the girls.  Taking the train from BC to Ontario to begin basic training, he never had any intention of remaining with the Army.  He had a rocky start and, true to his nature, he bucked military authority and bent the rules.  He eventually settled into military life and made it his life’s work, proudly serving 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces rising to the level of Master Warrant Officer.  He completed his career as a civilian working for DND.  

While on leave in 1959 he flew back to his hometown in Alberta and asked the girl he had known all his life to marry him.   After a whirlwind courtship and wedding he whisked her back to Ontario to start their life together.  She was a young, naïve, small-town girl and he was a streetwise, worldly, young man.   They built a life together on a soldier’s salary, which wasn’t much in the 60’s, but they always managed.  He served with the Royal Canadian Signals Corps and was posted to the Congo, Germany, BC and Egypt.  In Ottawa he worked in DLAEEM (Directorate of Land Armament Electronic Engineering and Maintenance.  Together they raised three kids.

He served his time and retired early.   He and Mom became snow birds, wintering in Texas where they made many friends, took many trips to Mexico and drank many margaritas! 

Ok, housekeeping is done, who was Jack Mitchell?

I think our cousin said it best; he was bigger than life and owned every room he walked into.   A true extrovert, he drew attention to himself wherever he went.  He spoke to everyone and anyone, and could carry on a conversation on pretty much any subject.  He was a self-professed ‘bull-shitter’!  He love to banter with his army buddies, Dick, Larry, The Frank… with long standing jokes that came from years of friendship and shared experiences.  Listening to them talk always made us shake our head and smile, we certainly couldn’t get a word in! 

He loved to regale us with stories of his days in the Army or his antics growing up in small town Alberta.  He had no filter when telling these stories and they were not always PG-13!  The age of the audience didn’t matter and his grandkids sat and listened to each and every story with rapt attention. We spent a lot of time deprogramming our kids after a visit with grandpa!    And you couldn’t ask him to tone it down because he would only make the stories bigger!  

In later years he would surprise us by buying shares in Canapy Growth just to tell his grandkids that he owned pot stocks!  Nothing made him happier than to do the unexpected.   We all existed on Dad’s totem pole and each of us made plays to rise to the top.  The big joke between his kids and grandkids was finding ways to have the others cut out of his will.  Inappropriate?  You betcha!  That was Dad’s sense of humor.  We all got pretty creative in the cutthroat game. 

Dad and Mom loved to dance.  Whether it was ballroom or square dancing they did it with zest.  They could jitterbug with the best of them and what they lacked in technique they made up for in enthusiasm.  I have many memories of waltzing around the living room floor with him.  He liked to golf and was very creative with his score much to the exasperation of his friends.  Nothing made him happier than the back and forth teasing.      

He was first vice-president of the Legion from 1987 – 1988.  Participating and running many different activities including  very successful bingo fundraisers.  Never one to do anything half way, he and our Mom would dress up in costume to keep it fun.

These last 2 years were not easy on him but he always put on a brave face.  Even when he wasn’t feeling his best he would stride into the hospital for a cancer treatment and when asked how he was feeling he would respond, ‘If I was any better there would be two of me’.  A thought that made us cringe.  We could hardly handle one of him, what would we do with two?  He lived by the motto ‘You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar’ and worked hard to remain positive and upbeat for those who cared for and supported him.   

He liked his kids but adored his grandkids and great-grandson.  He loved their visits, their text messages, the lunch dates, the pictures and stories they shared.    He spoke of them often and proudly.  

He was a huge force in our life and is leaving a huge hole but we give him up willingly knowing he will be dancing the jitterbug and having a glass or two of port with the love of his life, our Mom.

With heavy hearts we say goodbye…  for now…