John Owen McGuirk

Son of the Canadian Prairies, Jack McGuirk lived a long, full life. His journey began on October 20, 1926 in Dauphin, Manitoba, the oldest child of a Kiwi cavalry officer/veterinarian who met a young woman on his long way home to New Zealand after serving in Europe and the Pakistan-Afghanistan border during WWI. Jack’s father never did make it back to New Zealand, but later in life Jack made good by twice visiting relatives in his father’s homeland. 

Along with his father Owen, mother Jessie, younger brother Jim, and younger sisters Willeane and Patricia, Jack had a colorful small-town childhood filled with animals of various local species around the house, both domestic and wild. However, with Canada at war, it was time to leave childhood behind. Jack, along with his best friend Beak, joined the Canadian Army in 1943. At the time, young men could join at 17 with their parents’ permission, so Jack, still being just 16, made a slight fib on his enlistment papers. Trained as a tank gunner, Jack was fortunate that the war ended before his planned deployment to the Pacific Theater in late 1945.

After the war, Jack studied mining engineering at the University of British Columbia and spent summers prospecting up in the Northwest Territories, flown around by bush pilots such as Ernie Boffa. He later found himself working and living at a mine in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, where he met a fellow employee named Vicky, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants. Jack invited Vicky for a ride in his prized T-Type MG and their relationship grew from there. They eloped in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, had a little girl named Sloane and in 1958 settled in North Vancouver, where they later added a son named Patrick to the brood. They had the good fortune of building a house next to the Allan clan, which would be the beginning of lifelong friendships.

By this point, Jack had started what would become a successful career in the limestone industry. A promotion in 1967 took him to Toronto for three years, followed by another which brought Jack and his young family to the U.S. and Tacoma, Washington, where he became a plant manager and eventually a proud U.S. citizen. Life wasn’t always kind and Jack tragically lost his dear Vicky to leukemia in 1980. It was around this time that Jack found solace in running (often with his glorious Great Dane, Ivanhoe), a sport in which he excelled, winning many trophies and ribbons in 99 races over the years. He even climbed Mt. Rainier at the age of 56. Jack’s dedication to fitness and a healthy lifestyle served him exceptionally well and continued paying dividends deep into his later life. One last promotion in 1984 saw him relocate to Salt Lake City, where he became a general manager, overseeing the U.S. operations for his company, eventually retiring at 67. The Utah sunshine and natural beauty had taken hold, so Jack decided to continue living in the Salt Lake City area. 

For Jack, retirement was just a waypoint and he had lots of life left to live. He continued his running career and, being surrounded by the famous Utah winter snow, included skiing to his repertoire, eventually adding a coveted “Wild old Bunch” patch to his ski jacket. Jack’s love life was renewed when he met Phyllis in 1996 through mutual friends in Vancouver. Jack and Phyllis got married in early 2001, adding Phyllis’s son Bradley to the family, and spent 22 happily married years together in Utah. They travelled to various destinations around the world and had scores of wonderful friends and neighbors, meeting many through the Retired Members Social Group (RMSG), part of the Newcomers Club. Life was active, full, and never boring.

Although time and good fortune brought Jack south to warmer climes, he never forgot the roots of his youth. If you’re ever next to a quiet lake up north some early morning and hear the plaintive wail of a loon off in the distance, think of Jack. He’ll probably be listening, too.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East.  Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building. Attendees are invited to wear green, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day also.