PERSINGER, John “Jack”

JOHN “JACK” PERSINGER 1934 – 2024 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John (Jack) Harold Persinger on Friday, October 25th, 2024, at the age of 90 years.
Jack has joined his beautiful and greatly missed wife, Doreen, who passed away in 2022. Dad will be forever loved and deeply missed by his family of five daughters: Debbie (Darrell) Campbell of Lethbridge, Tammy (Rob Banville) Persinger of Calgary, Bonnie (Greg) Moulton of Okotoks, Lois (Sid) Felske of Calgary and Tracy (Al) McCann of Coaldale. Grandpa Jack was a loving Grandpa to Ricki, Craig, and Ethan Campbell; Brett, Blake, and Tara Nishikawa; Valerie, Katelyn, and Laura Talbot; Cole and Brittney Felske; and Cody Persinger as well as a proud Great Grandpa to Julien, Damien, and Ireland Archer; and Dax Persinger. Jack is also survived by his brother, Howard Persinger of Kelowna, B.C., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Jack was born on January 31st, 1934, in Didsbury, Alberta to Eli and Margaret Persinger. He was the 9th child in a family of 11 children. Jack had 5 brothers and 5 sisters. They all grew up in the Olds area and attended several different 1 room schools. Jack quit school after grade 10 because money was tight, and he had to get a job to support himself. At the age of 18, Jack joined the Navy and was sent to the Cornwallis Naval Base at Digby, Nova Scotia for boot camp. He trained as a radio technician and was then posted to various ships on both the east and west coasts of Canada.
In 1956, while stationed at Patricia Bay Naval Air Station in Sidney, B.C., Dad’s best friend introduced him to twins, Doreen and Eileen Arnold. Jack and Doreen hit it off immediately and were married 4 months later on December 29th, 1956. It was a whirlwind romance because Jack had been posted to Halifax and had to be there by January 15th, 1957. This beautiful marriage lasted 67 years until Doreen’s passing. Jack and Doreen moved back to Victoria after a year and started their family with Debbie and then Tammy a year later. Shortly after, they moved to Mannville, where Bonnie, Lois and Tracy were born.
Mom and Dad were lifelong partners in life and in business. They bought a general store in Mannville and operated it together for 8 years, while raising 5 young girls. Recently Dad reminisced about what it was like to have 5 of us running around the store; playing hide and seek, filling shopping carts for fun and then incorrectly restocking shelves and of course, sneaking candy. After selling the store, Mom and Dad moved to Vermilion, where they enjoyed curling, snowmobiling, camping and parties with a great group of friends. Dad did contract work for Alberta Government Telephones for 13 years, travelling around the province, removing telephone wire and poles. In 1974, Dad sold the telephone equipment and moved to Lethbridge, where he got his Real Estate License and began a 20-year career in the real estate business. During the last 5 years of his career, Dad sold condominiums – over 500 units in 3 buildings. He was an incredible salesman and often had repeat customers. Dad retired in 2004, at the age of 70 years.
Dad was a very active person. He loved to go to the gym and for long walks and he curled for many years. Mom and Dad often went to hockey games (Lethbridge Broncos/Hurricanes) and had seasons tickets for several years to the Lethbridge Bulls baseball league.
Grandpa Jack loved spending time with his grandchildren, and he spent many hours watching the boys play baseball and hockey. He loved to take the girls ice skating. He loved chatting with the kids in the neighborhood and was also known to take some of them to the dump on Saturday mornings (which was code for going to the Dairy Queen).
Dad had a great sense of humor. Recently one of his nephews commented that Uncle Jack was the best storyteller he knew, and that Dad knew more jokes than anyone. Dad was also known for giving nicknames to many people, including his children, his nieces and nephews, and to children of friends and neighbors.
Dad/Grandpa Jack/Brother Jack/Uncle Jack/Boss was a treasured husband, father, uncle, brother, grandpa and great grandpa, and friend. He will be missed by many and will live on in our hearts and cherished memories.
Jack’s family would like to thank the staff at the Pemmican Lodge, the Chinook Regional Hospital and St. St. Michael’s Health Centre for their compassionate care of both our dad and mom over the last couple of years.
Visit www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.