Jack Kernan

To watch the livestream of the service, follow this link:

https://www.youtube.com/live/_RuiQcSbmoM

Jack Adam Cleveland Kernan, of Saskatoon, SK, passed away on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Diamond House Personal Care Home, at the age of 97.

Jack was pre-deceased by his beloved wife, Faye. He is survived by twin sons Garry (Cecilia) of Kamloops, BC, and Grant (Beverley) of Wilkie, SK; his daughter Karen (Claude); and youngest son Andrew, who resides in the Turks & Caicos Islands. He is also survived by his progeny, ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: Zoë (Kris) Elhert-Maïella, Noëlle; Sheila (Chris) Pollen-Zachary; Adam (Shannon) Kernan; Luke Kernan; Michael (Brittney) Kernan; Matthew Kernan; Jason Powell-Saffron, Ivy; Matthew (Lori) Powell-Charles, Alyssa; Ben (Caley) Kernan-Charlotte, Owen; Kristin (Preston) Björnson-Stella and Faye.

Two life events prominently shaped Jack's humble way of being in the world. He enlisted in the Reserve Forces during WWII at the age of 17. He was a Bombardier in the 40th Field Regiment, completing his training at CFB Moose Jaw and CFB Shilo. He trained mainly as an artillery gunner. He was second in command, Cadet Major Jack Kernan. These experiences of discipline moulded his service-oriented choices and life-long civic commitments. After that, the second event came during his undergraduate degree, when Jack worked seasonally as a ranch hand in southern Saskatchewan. That very summer a contemplative mood set in, and he fell in love with those quiet roaming lands, the living skies of the prairies, and horseback riding. All of which cemented his gentleness for animals.

Jack Kernan was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, on August 16, 1927. His father, Adam, was a manual arts teacher, and his mother Ninette taught classical piano. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1954. Only a year later, he completed his M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry (Thesis - Synthesis of the Analogues of Mescaline). Shortly after that, he started a doctoral program but never completed his dissertation. At university, he serendipitously met his beautiful wife, Faye, a pharmacist, to whom he was married for 67 years until her death in 2021.

Jack was the lab instructor for Faye's class in organic chemistry. Jack and Faye were married in Saskatoon at Grace United Church in May 1954. Nine months later, twins were born, just in time to graduate along with the new parents in 1955. Jack's work took them across Canada to two different provinces (Ontario and Quebec). A few years later, Karen, their only daughter, was born in Kingston, Ontario, and, in 1961, Andrew in Montreal, Quebec. The family, homesick for the magic of the prairies, moved back to Saskatoon in 1966, where Jack worked at the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) until his retirement. During that period, Faye worked at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) within the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Jack Kernan was for many years a principal researcher in the Chemistry and Biology program at the Saskatchewan Research Council. He worked with others on methods to process crop residues and wild plants, some of which were common weeds. One collaborative study led to the novel implementation of a particular common weed as an emergency livestock feed during a drought. In 1988, farmers employed this drought-resistant weed as an emergency backup feed for cattle throughout southern Saskatchewan. This intervention was calculated to save farmers millions of dollars in value-and the lives of their bovine herds.

Jack and Faye attended Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon for 38 years. They were both avid church volunteers. He was also a member of the Nutana Rotary Club-and engaged in countless community-led projects for the benefit of others. On his off time, Jack enjoyed being part of the men's luncheon group, the "ROMEOS" ("Retired Old Men Eat Out").

Pets have always been an important part of Jack's life. In his childhood, he had a collie named Scotty. He won a golden cocker spaniel, Prince Bonnie Charlie, in a raffle for 25¢ in 1956. Then came Silver, a beagle, and Mickey, a black lab. A succession of cats followed: Tantra, Tique, Kitty, Kobe, Frankenstein, and lastly WingNut.

Jack always loved sports, and he was exceptionally gifted in all of them. In his youth, he played football, softball, bowling, and golf and skied. He was a member of the Saskatoon Bridge Club for over 30 years. He liked to play cards (especially bridge) and cribbage. He enjoyed watching musicals from the 1940s (especially Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy). Music was a way that he could connect to the memory of his mother, Ninette, suspend his shyness for a moment, and live a little larger in savouring life's moods through his expressiveness in sound. For that reason, Jack was an accomplished pianist, and both he and Faye loved dancing together.

Jack's funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 12th, at 11 am at Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon. Private interment at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery will follow, where he will be buried beside Faye, in the "Garden of the Old Rugged Cross".