Print:
Suddenly, surrounded with the knowledge of the love of his family, Jack MacDonald of Riverview, N.B., died on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Moncton Hospital, New Brunswick, at the age of 94.
Born November 5, 1928, Jack grew up on a farm bordering the Northumberland Strait in Seafoam, Nova Scotia. There he learned to pitch in and do his part, to see himself as part of a family, and to look outward to value the world. After high school, Jack worked in several small co-operatives before getting a job with the Co-op in Moncton in the early 1950s. He was employed there until his retirement in 1988. Jack believed in helping small operations co-operate to be effective for individuals.
Moving to Moncton was pivotal for Jack: he committed his life into the hands of Jesus Christ shortly afterward. Knowing that God loved him and loving God back shaped Jack both personally and within Gunningsville Baptist Church, where he worshipped, fellowshipped, and served in many roles for almost 70 years. He also served on several local Christian boards and committees. After coming to Moncton, he met and fell in love with Ruth (Robertson), a girl from Kingsboro, P.E.I., who had come to work at Eaton’s; they were married in 1953.
A book close at hand, a Northumberland Strait lobster eaten with homemade mayonnaise, a straight shot down a golf fairway, a walk on the beach at Seafoam: there were many pleasures for Jack in God’s good world. He was a man of thought and integrity, faith and action, humour and humanity.
Jack is predeceased by his parents, Alexander and Frances, his sister Margaret, and brother Henry. He was also predeceased by Ruth (dec. 1989), the mother of his five living children and their infant son John. Jack is survived by his second wife Cindy and her family, sister-in-law Emma of Seafoam, and brother Bill (Marjorie) of Iroquois, Ont. He will be sadly missed by his children Morgan Reed of Regina; Donna (Tom) Rutherford of Calgary; Dan (Marlene) MacDonald of Fairview, P.E.I., Tim MacDonald (Judy Schwarz) of Prince Rupert; and, Carl (Meta) MacDonald, of North Vancouver. Each one was integral to his life. Added to these, he was loved by a family that extended to 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
You are invited to celebrate Jack’s life at a time of visitation, Monday, March 13, 2023, 6 to 8 p.m. at Passage Funeral Co-operative (Chartersville Funeral Home location, 363 Amirault St., Dieppe, N.B., (506) 857-1901); funeral at the same location Tuesday, March 14, 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Blair Holden officiating. Reception to follow.
Interment will be later the same day at Fair Haven Cemetery, 1177 Salisbury Rd., Moncton.
A memorial donation can be contributed to Gunningsville Baptist Church, Doctors Without Borders (MSF Canada), or a charity of your choice. To send a word of comfort and sympathy online, please visit www.funerairepassagefuneral.ca.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Passage Funeral Co-operative and Cremation Centre.
Dan, Marlene and families. We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to all of you. No matter how long our loved ones are blessed to be with us it is always so hard to say goodbye. We will hold you in our prayers for peace to be with you all. Love Sandra, Terry, Michelle, Chris and Zoey.
Jack will be deeply missed by his family, his friends, his church and his community. He was a strong man of faith, very evident in his life. He was so blessed to have all his family home visiting this past fall. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his family.
Deepest sympathies to the many loved ones who will miss this wonderful man. His commitment to serving God in so many capacities made an impact on my own walk of faith
Jack was a real gentleman. He guided me through my early days with Co-op Atlantic. Condolences to Dan and family.
Jack was a beautiful person and a man of God.
Cindy and family – may the Lord bless and keep you, and continue to give you hope for the future.
Love,
Alice & Richard
Cindy and family….we are so very sorry to hear this sad news but joyful to know where Jack is and all that he is experiencing at this moment. Myles has spoken many times of living next door and what a wonderful neighbor he had in Jack….from the twisting of the ear in discipline to the Godly example that he knew to expect in the lifelong friendship between his father and Jack. This is a huge loss here on earth but an even larger gain in heaven. Praying for peace in your heart as you remember and mourn.
Jack was a good man in every sense of the word. I admired him greatly
My deepest sympathies Dan, to you and your family on the loss of your father. RIP
Cindy,
Sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. Always had some good conversations when at the church and at your door with the newspaper.
Janice (McCurdy) McGuire sent me Jack’s obituary. I was sad to read that Jack died suddenly. This picture of Jack is how I remember him. Reading his obituary I learned that Jack grew up on a farm in Seafoam, NS. To me he and Ruth and their 5 children lived in Gunningsville and were members of Gunningsville Baptist Church like my parents, Stephen & Ella Steeves. Our condolences to Cindy and Family. May God be your source of peace, comfort, and strength during this time. 🙏
Jack will be dearly missed buy all who knew him. Our sincere condolences to Cindy and Jack’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. John 6:43 reads “Everyone who has faith in Me has eternal life.” May God comfort you and His arms hold you close.
Our sincere sympathy to all of the family. As Dan and Marlene’s church family here at Long Creek Baptist on PEI, we send our love and condolences to each of you as you mourn the loss of your grandfather, father and husband, Jack. The lovely obituary characterized a man of great faith and one who wanted the best for his community. May comfort be drawn from the God of all peace who knows each of you by name and who has now welcomed Jack Home.
My sincere sympathy on the passing of your loving husband, father, and grandfather. I will always remember his warmth and friendly smile.
Have fond memories of all the years he supported Touchstone Counselling Group by participating in the annual golf tournament.
Will be praying for you Cindy as you mourn the loss of your husband and walk through the journey of grief. May you know the presence of Jesus sustaining you and comforting you.
Berys Richardson
Jack MacDonald was generous, kind, soft spoken and always seemed to be smiling. He was a bright light at the Gunningsville Baptist Church through my childhood and adulthood life. I am sorry to hear of his passing. May his life and service be a beacon for others to follow. He was a gentleman and a welcoming presence! My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
Jack was well-known to his co-workers at Co-op Atlantic as a kind and gracious gentleman who always had a smile for everyone. My deepest condolences to Dan and family.
Jack was such a good friend and neighbour to me when I lived just down the street from he and Cindy in Gunningsville. I used to call him my snow angel during winter storms when he inevitably showed up at my driveway with his snowplower. In other seasons, I remember so many good conversations about gardens, housing projects and life in the neighbourhood. Jack has been a very long-time supporter of the ministry of InterVarsity, serving as area committee chairman many years ago and supporting my work in particular for the past 20 years. I will miss conversations about books, theology, birds and just life in general. His life was so well, lived, his faith and witness true, humble and careful. I am grateful to have counted him among my friends. My sincere condolences to Cindy and to all Jack’s family.
We have such great respect for Jack and were privileged to have called him friend and mentor at Gunningsville Baptist Church. He will be missed but not forgotten. May God richly bless your whole family with memories that can be cherished.
Cindy and the MacDonald Family – my most sincere condolences. May fond memories of happy times you have shared together be a great comfort in coming days. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Debby Stuart – ABW of Shediac Bay Community Church
My dad, Robert Harrison Tivy somehow made arrangements with Jack Macdonald to rent the basement of his house while our house at 111 Ranch Road was being built. I remember many times playing with the Macdonald kids since their back yard joined onto our side yard. We only lived in Gunningsville 5 years from 1960 to 1965, but that was where I grew up. Although I now live in Vancouver, I visited several times in recent years, and also talked to Jack on the telephone. I think he must have been the last of the Gunningsville grownups of my time.