Pekush, Jack David

Jack David Pekush, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in North Vancouver, B.C. on April 21, 2024. Jack was born in Insinger, SK on April 3, 1938. His family moved to Regina where he attended Balfour Tech. Shortly after high school Jack joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving as a pilot. It was during this time he relocated to Saskatoon and met his future wife, Jean Robertson. In 1961, they were married in Jean’s hometown of Rush Lake, SK and would remain together for 56 years.
Jack spent several years as a member of the Saskatoon Police Department prior to enrolling in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Upon graduation, Jack began teaching in 1969 at Walter Murray Collegiate, a place he would call home over the course of his entire career. He was a respected biology teacher who made an impact on generations of students. His sons, David and Robert, were fortunate to have attended the school during this time and to have their father have a front seat to their many athletic activities. Additional to teaching, Jack transitioned from the Air Force to the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve where he made many lifelong friends. He was based out of the HMCS Unicorn and retired as a Lieutenant Commander.
Jack will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, and man of many interests and talents. He was a voracious reader, he tended to beautifully potted planters around his yard in the summer, he loved to travel with Jean- especially to Victoria every winter, he enjoyed volunteering at the Saskatoon Festival of Trees, and was a longtime proud member of the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation.
Jack was predeceased by Jean in 2018, after which he moved to North Vancouver in 2021 to live with David and his family. Jack is survived by David (Tiffany) their children Sydney and Gabi, Robert (Shannon), their children Hayden, Emerson and Harrison, his brothers Brian Smith and Dennis (Deloris) Pekush and his sister-in-law’s Jean Pekush and Betty Robertson. He was predeceased by his younger brother Ron. A gathering of friends and family will be held to celebrate Jack’s life in the fall in Saskatoon.