Arthur John “Jack” Body

November 20, 1935 - October 28, 2024

Arthur John Body (‘Jack’), born November 20, 1935, in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2024, at the age of 88. Known to all simply as Jack, he leaves behind a legacy of love, ingenuity, and deep connections within his family and community.

Jack was born to Beryl and Art Body, arriving just minutes after his twin sister, Joyce. The family resided on the Body Farm, 14 miles outside Luseland. Jack began his schooling at Englewood School, located just across the road from the farm, and later attended high school in Luseland, staying in town during the winter months in a house the family purchased for that purpose. Tragically, Jack’s mother, Beryl, passed away when he was only 18, leaving a gap in the family that was deeply felt and never fully filled.

Following graduation, Jack joined his brother Tom and father Art on the farm full time. He was never afraid to try something new or take a risk by buying more land or investing in the farm. Together they expanded the farm greatly during this time, acquiring a number of nearby properties as they became available. To say Jack was “handy” in the workshop would be a vast understatement. Despite having no formal engineering training, he was constantly designing and building something new or remodelling and ‘improving’ one piece of farm equipment after another. One piece of equipment remembered fondly was his “backwards” tractor, known as the “Michigan”. This was an old International tractor that Jack “turned” around, adding some very long loader arms, multiple buckets and attachments creating a highly versatile loader he used throughout his farming career.

In 1974, following the death of their father, Jack and Tom placed an advertisement for a housekeeper. Carol having met the brothers the previous year applied and was accepted for the position. Tom travelled to Lashburn in their pickup truck with homemade cattle racks to collect Carol and her three children. Upon their arrival they found Jack, covered in dust from head to toe, having spent the day harrowing in his open cab tractor. They will always remember his bright white eyes, huge smile and laughter welcoming them into his life. In April 1975 after a whirlwind romance Jack and Carol were married in Lloydminster. A honeymoon in Hawaii set the tone for all the adventures they would share throughout their lives together.

In 1976, Jack adopted Carol’s three children, making her so happy and solidifying the family bond. Life with Jack was filled with many adventures from trips to Niagara Falls, Disneyland, Barbados, Hawaii and numerous fishing trips as well as attending many airshows, tractor pulls, farm shows and rodeos. Jack instilled humility, curiosity, and a strong work ethic in his children, values that remain a central part of his legacy.

Jack was a man of many talents and passions. In his teens, he took up ballroom dancing during his regular trips to Edmonton. True to Jack’s style, he didn’t just dabble; he became an accomplished dancer, which made him a wonderful partner for Carol on the dance floor. Together, they were founding members of the Luseland Square Dance Club and spent many winter nights traveling around west-central Saskatchewan dancing at different clubs around the region.

Jack was also a skilled pilot, flying a Citabria acrobatic plane. He loved taking friends and family up for joyrides or checking on his cattle. His children were always thrilled to go with him, and he even let them take the controls sometimes. A fond memory they shared was when he would place a quarter on their knee while he climbed higher and higher, only to dive down suddenly, creating a feeling of weightlessness. Watching that quarter hover in mid-air was a magic trick like no other.

In his later years, Jack even investigated building his own helicopter much to Carol’s dismay. Fortunately, she put her foot down and managed to talk him out of that one.

Jack’s love for machinery extended beyond the farm equipment. In 2000, he found the perfect opportunity to indulge another passion and bought a 1966 Cadillac Deville. Jack and Carol joined a group of like-minded antique car enthusiasts, traveling coast to coast across Canada. They enjoyed it so much that they did it all over again in 2010. These trips were filled with laughter, camaraderie, and memories they cherished together.

Jack’s two sisters, Jean and Joyce, married two brothers, Alex and John, making their families incredibly close-knit. Before Carol came into the picture, Jean and Joyce spent nearly 20 years looking out for Jack, Tom, and their father Art—cooking, washing cleaning, and generally keeping the guys fed and presentable. This early care left Tom and Jack with a deep appreciation for anything that involved ‘housework,’ and this made Carol a valued part of the family from day one. In their home, gender equality and equal opportunity were simply understood as the way things should be. Everyone was involved in all the different types of work on the farm which was always done as a “team”. These activities included branding cows, implanting steers, sorting and moving cattle, picking rocks and harvesting, even cleaning up after meals was done as a team.

Family gatherings with the Gottfried’s were a tradition for all holidays and birthdays, always rotating between families. These events included delicious meals and maybe a slide show from someone’s latest adventure. Those are fond memories for everyone and included a wide range of activities like being towed on an inner tube behind a skidoo, playing pool and shuffleboard, or just horsing around. Those days were packed with laughter and fun. Evenings always included card games and food that was second to none. Gatherings rarely wrapped up before midnight, concluding with one last meal and cup of coffee before heading home.

After Jack retired, he rented his land to his great-nephews, Randy, Steven, and Brian Gottfried. It was a perfect fit—he couldn’t have been happier when one of the boys or their dads pulled up at the shop to work on a machine. Fixing things and sharing his know-how was when Jack was truly in his element.

Working together was a theme across the wider family too, many a day was spent branding, cementing, butchering or building a new structure or quonset for one family member or another. Helping each other was woven into their lives and extended beyond Jean and Joyce’s families to include Bill Body and Arden Body’s families.

Jack and Tom loved having visitors. “Come on in for a coffee” was always the first thing out of their mouths. No matter how busy they were or what they had on the go, they’d always make time to catch up and hear what was happening in the lives of their friends and neighbours. Rainy days often meant the coffee pot was on non-stop, with folks dropping by all day. Jack genuinely loved these moments, he especially enjoyed getting to indulge in the wide array of Carol’s baking that would surface to be shared with the company.

Jack lived for his work, but he also loved going on holidays. He and Carol particularly enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Arizona. They started out renting a small trailer in the late 1980s, graduated to towing a 5th Wheel in the early 2000s, bought a motor home later that decade and eventually they ended up buying a place there, which became a beloved winter retreat. Australia was also on their travel list, with trips to visit Rick and his family or to catch up with former “Agricultural Trainees” who had worked on the farm in the 1990s and became dear friends.

They cherished their cross-Canada trips in the Cadillac and made countless shorter trips during the summers to visit family, join in square dance events, or attend family reunions.

Other outings were simple affairs, sparked by nothing more than a rainy day. A little shower was all it took for Jack to head inside, ask Carol if she wanted to go for a drive and dinner, and off they’d go. Carol never turned down these spontaneous outings—they simply loved spending time together.

Jack really embraced being a grandparent and fully lived up to the title. From the moment Chad arrived, he found so much joy in spending time with each and every one of his grandkids—Chad, Jenna, Todd, Dylan, Nicole, Chelsea, Aaron, and Mitchell. They all have many fond memories of ‘Papa’ or ‘Grandpa Jack,’ as he was known. Whether it was a ride on the tractor, loader, grader, airplane, quad bike, or his old car, giving them these experiences was one of his favorite things.

In these last few years, Jack had the joy of getting to know his great-grandchildren. This past year, he never had a bigger smile than when he was holding one of them or watching them play with the farm toys he kept in his room.

Jack set a wonderful example of how to live a full life. For him, it was all about envisioning what could be possible and then putting in the work to make it happen. It might not be successful on the first try, but that was okay; the next attempt would be better, and eventually, he’d make it work. He genuinely enjoyed his work, but he always had time for friends and neighbours. For him, work and family were deeply intertwined—he loved them both. He understood that if you truly love what you do and who you share it with, it all fits together.

Jack’s family has tried to follow that example. That drive, that ‘don’t be afraid to try anything’ attitude, is exactly what they got from him. Life is short, and Jack taught them to fill it up with the people and the things they love. That’s a big part of his legacy.

On behalf of all the family, we want to thank Jack for his love, his warmth, and for being the role model we all hold dear and strive to live up to.

Jack will be missed deeply, but his family takes comfort knowing he is in a better place, where he can put his feet up, relax, and take pride in a life well-lived.

Thank You

Following the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Jack Body, our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone in the community for the overwhelming support, kindness, and compassion shown to us.

A special Thank you to the entire staff at the Kerrobert Long Term Care facility, we are profoundly grateful for the compassionate care and support given to him and us over the final year of Jack’s life. Your dedication to your work and your kindness brought us great comfort and peace knowing he was well taken care of each and every day. It is difficult to find the words to say ‘Thank you’ to all the people involved in his care, just know you made a huge difference in his life and we are forever grateful.

The Internment was held on November 9, 1 pm at the Luseland cemetery, attended by family and followed by a Celebration of Life at the Luseland Homecoming Hall. Alan Olfert led the Graveside & Celebration of Life services with Tracy & Keely Olfert singing and playing guitar for the songs, Peace in the Valley (graveside service), On Eagles Wings and I’ll fly Away.

Jack’s children Rick Body, Cindy Chotowetz and Dawn Kennedy prepared and read the Eulogy. Grandson, Dylan Kennedy rewrote and read a special version of the poem “For this Farmer”, a heartfelt tribute to Jack’s life and work.

Memories of Jack were shared by friends & family beginning with Alan sharing one of Jack’s favourite jokes and a few of his own memories of interactions with Jack, followed by Darren Gottfried, who shared memories on behalf of his mother, Joyce and his Aunt Jean Gottfried, and all of his cousins. Rick’s children, Mitchell and Chelsea Body, also shared theirheartfelt memories of times spent with Grandpa Jack. Several people came forward to share their own stories, adding to humour and laughter as they honoured his life with personal tributes.

The family prepared a Photo tribute in Jack’s honour, along with his granddaughters setting up memory tables displaying meaningful items from his life, including photos, shop tools, a veterinary box, his first pilot’s log book and license, branding irons, a welding helmet, playing cards, his sudoku book, a remote control airplane, work overalls & gloves and with his favourite hat.

Keith Rumohr and Perry Body served as ushers, the hall was at full capacity but seats were found for almost all in attendance.

Guests enjoyed a beautifully prepared lunch, and pie & ice cream were served as a special remembrance of Jack’s favourite treat!

We are grateful for the generous gifts of Flower arrangements and donations to the Kerrobert Health Centre Long Term Care Facility in his memory.

As the celebration of Life came to a close, Alan ended with Jack’s favourite farewell: ‘Come again’. We feel truly blessed to be a part of such a caring community and want you to know how much your support has meant to us. Your comforting words and presence brought us strength during this difficult time, and your kindness helped us honour Jack’s life and legacy in such a meaningful way. Thank you to each and everyone of you for standing by us as we celebrate his life.