Jack Gamble 

1933 - 2002

I had the privilege of meeting Jack & his brothers in October 2001, at Branch 163 of the Royal Canadian Legion whilst with Glynn Speare & Bradley Fortman.

Jack ready for a Swim in Ottawa 1980'S & Jack & Dorothy August 2001

Jack's Obituary in the Hamilton Spectator  

GAMBLE, John (Jack)  - Suddenly at his home in Stoney Creek on 
Sunday January 20, 2002, Jack Gamble, in his 69th year.  Husband of the 
late Nora (nee Claxton).  Dear father of Janet and her husband James 
Gutowski of Thorold, Barbara and her husband Bill Gresko of Grimsby, 
Kenneth and his wife Connie of Hamilton, Bill Black and his wife Dawn of 
Grassie, Jacquie and her Husband Kevin Johnston of Bright, and Kathy 
and her husband Dave Evans of Hamilton.  Dear brother of Walter, Bill, 
Bob and Dorothy LaSalle. Lovingly remembered by fourteen grandchildren.
  Jack was a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #622 and a 
long standing member of the Sheet Metal Workers International 
Association, Local 537.  Friends will be received at the DONALD V. 
BROWN FUNERAL HOME, 36 Lake Avenue Drive, Stoney Creek on 
Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday form 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.  Funeral 
Service will be held the the Chapel on Friday, January 25 at 11 a.m.  
Cremation will follow.  As an expression of sympathy, donations to the 
Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.

Reading By Jacks Brother Bill Gamble

JOHN FREDERICK (JACK) GAMBLE Jan. 31/33-Jan.20/02

This is without doubt the most difficult task, that I have ever had to do, to say goodbye to my brother Jack. I did not have a chance to say the many things I would have liked to have said. I always thought I would see or talk with him in a few days, or if he needed me he would call.

He has not only been my brother, he was also my best friend. Jack always looked at life with a great deal of optimism. He would always think the glass was half full, where others would say it was half empty.

When Nora was very sick, he did things for her that were a test of pure love. He never complained. I am sure everyone here knew it was a second marriage for both Jack and Nora.  When I asked Bill and Kathy, who are Nora's children, if there was anything they would like me to say about Jack, they said "to please say how grateful they were for the manner he looked after
their Mother and all the other things he had done for them". The same is to be said for Janet, Barbara, Kenny and Jackie, as they were all well loved and treated.

Jack had three families in a sense, his and Nora's family, his brother Walt, myself. Bob and our sister Dorothy, also the extra large family "The Legion". Some of you must have wondered what Jack and I talked about on Fridays week after week for the past 15 years or so. On some occasions, we were our brother's keeper in a sense, as at times when Nora would be having her
treatments, I think I was able to give him some comfort by just being there, on other occasions when Jean was having her health problems, he was my staff and I give thanks to him and God, for his thoughts were truly needed at that time.

 We both felt a feeling of pride and accomplishment when we had a large crowd on a Friday night, as we would see so many older couples dancing and enjoying themselves and often remark the Legion was truly a community hall, similar in many ways to what Church halls were a number of years ago. Many people thanked us on the way out for such an enjoyable evening, this would make Jack very proud.

  Saturday afternoons were really Jack's day, he loved this, and I want to say to those who helped and participated to make it so enjoyable and successful, thanks so very much.  One of my first memories of Jack was when he was a baby about 4 or 5 months old, I was six. We lived in a house at 373 Cumberland Avenue, my Grandmother and Aunt Lil lived with us and they thought my Johnny, as they called him, was the greatest thing on earth. My Mother and Aunt Lil were going to take him for a walk in the buggy and while they were in the house getting ready. Jack was in the buggy on the veranda, and me being a good brother and son, I decided to take the buggy down the steps, when I heard my mother scream as I was about to take the first step. It is possible I would have lost 69 years of companionship if they had been 30 seconds later.

I want to give a few thoughts—We come in to this world with nothing, we accumulate some material things, but leave many memories, some good, some bad. The material things fade and waste away, the memories live on, the bad memories are soon forgotten, but good ones live on.  In Jack's case the memories will live on for many years, and I give thanks to him and God for
them.

I want to close with this verse....

MISS ME BUT LET ME GO

When I come to the end of the road,
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free
Miss me a little, but not too long
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me— but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take
and each must go alone,
It's all part of the Master's Plan
a step on the road to home,
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me— but let me so.

Bill Gamble, Jan. 25/02

Reading By Jacks Son Ken Gamble

Many of you who know me will know that only on the rare occasion do I have any difficulty speaking before a distinguished crowd such as the one I see before me today. The next few moments find me in a rather extraordinary situation of which I will attempt to reflect from both my thoughts on paper and those still within my
heart.

It is without a doubt one of the greatest honors of my lifetime to stand before you today and put forth some thoughts on behalf of my sisters Janet, Barbara, Jacquie, Kathy and my brother Bill.

Let me say that I am absolutely overwhelmed by the support, compassion, and love that we have received throughout the past several days leading up to this moment. For this we thank you all.

Throughout the years my dad has been honored for one thing or another for all of his tireless involvement within the community that he loved so very much. Whether it was an appreciation award for his involvement in community television from his high ranked TV show Swap Shop, a citation from the municipal or federal government for the giving of his time for the good of the community, or his many times over familiar 1st place win in the 1.99 beauty contest at the Royal Canadian Legion, my dad was truly honored to receive this recognition over time.

I can say without doubt that the tribute you pay to our dad today is one event where he would truly feel most honored. How could he not? I look out and see family, neighbors both former and recent, workmates, and legion comrades - a standing room only crowd. Dad believed that you could measure a man's success by the company that he keeps. This is a testament to the man.

In many ways dad has touched all of our lives very uniquely. I know that each of you here can relate many of your own experiences with Dad.

• If you're a legion comrade, you will think about the many Friday night pubs and Saturday afternoons with Dick Flock, the countless hours of building maintenance and renovation, the women's clothing thing, and no doubt his harmonica playing.

• If you're a neighbor growing up with us as kids, you'll think about playing
hanky panky, I spy with my little eye, raising pigs and goats, and Dad
turning his eyelids inside out to give us a scare.

• If you're a relative or cousin, you may think of Uncle Jack as a big kid, an entertainer...but a man who so much loved his family and children through our many family functions over the years.

• If you are a friend, you will remember Jack as a tinkerer, always doing
something for someone else, from the heart.

Throughout the past few days I had an opportunity to share many thoughts with all of my family members and it seems we pretty much agree on the kind of person and father that my dad was. I believe dad always saw the world through rose colored glasses mentioned Jackie. He always saw and looked for the best in everything in

life. If the pinnacle or the best wasn't achieved, it didn't matter, because tomorrow was another day and things get better. Although it may not seem it right now, things will get better.

Janet spoke at one point of how dad could always make you feel as if you were the most important person in the world at any given moment. It didn't matter how busy things would get or how the time was, he could get so wrapped up in the moment and enjoy your companionship to the point where nothing else mattered.

And when it came to buying a house a couple of years ago, one which needed some sprucing up I might add, Barbara was there for Dad and Nora on a constant basis with brush and paint in hand well beyond the call of duty. Barb, Dad could not speak highly enough on the difference you made in his and Nora's life.

Throughout the years there were many challenges that were faced by my father. Having come through one marriage, he took on a more demanding role of raising two separate families under one roof- a difficult task. Enter Bill and Kathy. Fast-forward through the years to around 1994 when Nora was first diagnosed with cancer and Dad's greatest challenge was about to begin and preoccupy him for the next 8 or so years. In the end, Billy and Kathy would see dad as a gigantic man in respect to the love and dignity that he provided for their mother until her passing away last year. They publicly thank you dad. So Dad, you get A+ here.

For my self, I suppose the testament to my father would simply be how I am so much cut from the same mold in terms of my interests, hobbies, abilities, and personality. We are one and the same he and I, and I would not change this for anything. If I can at least become half the man that I knew in my dad, I will be blessed.

With Dad in the hand of the lord, heaven just became that much more of a fun place to go.

Today, I thank my family for their undivided support, and we thank you. Good-Bye and Good luck dad. Watch over us.