Loving husband of Liz Pacey (Kruiswyk) Father of Colin (Angie), Chantel and Kristen. Opa to Morgan, Connor and Isabelle Pacey. Jack was predeceased by his parents Elmer (2004) and Verna (2014). Left to mourn are his sisters Myrna Hayes (Late Raymond) and Susan (Robert) and their children, Jodilyn, Ron, Malinda and Megan.
He will be missed by his tinkering companion and brother-in-law Neil Kruiswyk, they were always busy working on a skidoo, motorcycle or destroying their latest remote control toys. He will be terribly missed by his Bud and his Bro who were family in his eyes. Their misadventures make for some hilarious memories. Cheers to you all.
Jack had a great education, starting in Matachewan Public School, travelling to KLCVI on the Pacey school bus with his dad, and then to the University of Waterloo for a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering. He stayed another couple of years doing academic research at the Waterloo Research Institute before taking a teaching position with Northern College’s Mechanical-Welding Department in 1978.
During his 29-year teaching career, Jack slowly and thoughtfully transformed the department and program to match changes in industry. He developed new programs, added Co-op work placements and opened the Kirkland Lake Canadian Welding Bureau test centre. An astute observer, he early on recognized the merits of the International Institute of Welding’s (IIW) credentialing system, so he became a member of the group that was bringing the system to Canada and made the Kirkland Lake Campus the first IIW-accredited lab in North America.
To ensure the program was up to date, he became a member of the
Apprenticeship Standards Board, the Canadian Welding Association, Association of Manufacturers of Ontario, and American Society for Metals. He served on Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
In 2000, Jack was awarded the Michael N. Vuchnich Award of Canadian Welding Society for Excellence in Welding Education. In 2004, the program received the national Yves Landry Award for Outstanding Innovation in Welding Education. For thirty years, Jack built a program recognized as the educational standard in the industry – simply the best education a welding professional can acquire in this country. And after retirement he continued to contribute his expertise as a Technical Advisor at the Materials Joining Innovation Center, which he had helped to found in 2008. In 2019, Northern College recognized Jack’s contributions with the designation of Professor Emeritus.
Jack’s quiet, yet effective approach earned the respect of all those who had the pleasure of coming into contact with him. His high standards for student work and behaviour created alumni who went on to hold key positions in the Canadian Welding industry. Jack’s expertise won him formal honours and awards. More importantly, his kindness, sense of humour and commitment to helping others elevated everyone who worked with him.
For 37 years he served his community as a volunteer fire fighter, Captain and most recently Chief of the Kenogami and District Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was a devoted volunteer having his hands in every project around the hall from construction to coach building, design, install and gearing up. He has been at the forefront of continuous improvements of gear, training and equipment along with spearheading the annual Herbie fundraising event.
First and foremost Jack was a devoted family man with a close knit circle of friends, and found great enjoyment spending time with his grandchildren playing soccer, volleyball or badminton in the front yard; always a good card game after supper.
Jack was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed nothing better than to go into his back 53 acres and chop down a tree or go fishing anytime of the year. Winter was his favorite season, fishing, cross country skiing and time at the Minion Ice Hut. He was excellent at any sport he chose to play and he especially loved the games of golf and pool.
Donations can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association
As per Jack’s wishes there will be a casual and informal Celebration of Life at the Kenogami Community Center and Fire Hall on Friday May 20 th , between 3:00pm and 8:00pm. Please wear your masks as per his request.
Dear Liz & family: we are so profoundly sorry to hear about Jack's passing; such a tragic loss. Please accept our sincere condolences. May all of your memories be of comfort during this difficult time. Peter MacLean and Cheryl Carbone.
I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Jack. He was such a wonderful man, always full of joy and life whenever I saw him. My thoughts and prayers going out to the family.
Sincerest condolences on your tremendous loss. May your many beautiful memories fill your hearts as you navigate this path of grief.
So sorry to hear about Jack’s passing. Thinking of you and this time of sorrow
I extend my condolences to Liz and family. I had the pleasure of interacting with Jack at Northern College. Jack was the Welding Department at the Kirkland Campus for the 29 years of his teaching career and thereafter. He certainly left his stamp at the Kirkland Lake Campus.
Welding students, welding companies big and small from near and afar, knew and professed his teaching ability, administrative skills, and mentoring abilities. Jack was the welding spokesperson and everyone who knew him appreciated his professionalism.
From the highly technical welding world to the back woods of Kenogami, Jack will be missed.
My sincere condolences to you and your family. Jack was an inspiration to me at Northern and I am so grateful to him for his guidance and mentorship.
I will miss those trips to the Southern Ontario Welding Advisory Committee meetings where Jack and I shared the driving. On one of the return trips, he drove my manual Honda Civic and showed me how to shift without using the clutch. Another time I had some old hinges that were bent up and I wanted to use them for a garden shed. I showed them to Jack and asked him for advice on how to repair them. He just said "leave them with me, I'll fix them for you" and he did. He was that kind of guy. He was great with kids, too. I remember being at your place for a MaJIC party and Theo (who was about 1 year old at the time) was making a fuss. He picked him up and carried him around the house and it was clear that both of them enjoyed every minute of it.
Those are just a few examples of the kind of guy Jack was.. I could keep going for a very long time.
Sarah and I are so very sorry for your loss.
I had the pleasure of working with Jack over the last 25 years. Jack was competent, smart, devoted to his craft and the education of his students. But to me I will always remember his smile and friendliness. He will be missed.
Truly sorry to hear of your husband's passing. Sincere condolences to all his loved ones.
My sincere condolences to Jack's family. For many decades, he was an incredible contributor to Northern College's School of Welding Engineering Technology, MaJIC and the Canadian welding industry technical standards advisory boards. Those contributions came through his professional knowledge and generosity of spirit, humble personality, and quiet humour. The Canadian short story writer Alistair Macleod once wrote "A good man leaves good things behind", and I'm sure there are a great many good things, and a great many lives touched and bettered, by his goodness. May your gratitude for having him in your lives for the time that you did help you overcome the pain of your loss.
Jack was an enormous help to me when I started as the full time professor of metallurgy at Northern 7 years ago this past April. HIs knowledge was enormous and covered every part of welding and the related metallurgy. I am a better teacher and a more knowledgeable engineer because of Jack's assistance. He was also one of the most unassuming individuals I have ever met. It was always easy to work with Jack. Over his career, Jack improved the welding industry across Canada, if not overseas as well, through his stewardship of the welding program at Northern.
Jack's energy was uncommon. We would sometimes travel together to southern Ontario for the fall program advisory committee meeting and on at least one occasion he drove most of the way down and all of the way back.
My wife Aga and I have happy memories of several parties at Jack's fine waterfront house.
We hope that Jack's family will find solace knowing how much Jack was respected and how much he improved the world.
Graham Payne and Aga Cabon
Jack was a tremendous man.
A great teacher, mentor and friend.
I personally appreciate the many hours that I had the privilege of spending "learning at the feet of a master". It didn't matter whether the topic was an obscure welding related problem, or tips on cutting firewood, Jack was a deep well of knowledge and wisdom.
Jack leaves behind shoes that will never be completely filled.
Our most sincere condolences.
Our sincere condolences on such a tragic loss. Treasure all your wonderful memories.
Jack was truly one of a kind and will never be forgotten. He was never shy to share his extensive knowledge and skills to anyone who would ask for help and I will miss picking his brain about his thoughts/opinions on various welding related matters. I offer my sincere condolences to his family.
Sorry to hear of your loss…my condolences to all…RIP Jack
We join with you in sorry at this sad time. He will be greatly missed by all Kenogami Residents.
So sorry for your loss, such a tragic loss. Jack was such a wonderful man. He will certainly be missed by all.
Dear Liz,
We were shocked and saddened to read of Jack's death this morning. Please accept our deepest sympathy. What an asset he was to Northern College and the community! We wish you all well and you are in our thoughts.
Doug & Wendy van Vianen.
Such sad news of his passing.
Jack's a one in a million kind of person.. One of the most influential mentors in my life, and one of the smartest people I've ever had the pleasure to work alongside. His impact on the College, students, coworkers, friends, professionals... everyone, will be felt forever. The programs wouldn't have been the same caliber without him!
He truly helped inspire me to continue my education and grow as an engineer. I was in awe by the wealth of knowledge he had about almost anything!! His gentle, kind, and thoughtful demeanor helped me become a better engineer and a better person.
My condolences to his family and friends.
I am so sorry for your loss. Jack will be missed by everyone who has had the honor of meeting him. He has been a mentor and a friend. My condolences from both Joan and myself
It was my privilege to work with Jack for a few years. Our students, the College, and the welding industry all benefitted from Jack’s knowledge and his talent in sharing it. He will be missed.
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Jack. I fondly recall Jack standing in front of our class puffing on his pipe and delivering what at the time was interpreted by me as Chinese scripture. I later discovered it was metallurgy. I managed to graduate and had the good fortune of maintaining a professional relationship with Mr. Pacey during the next 40 years. Jack was not only a gentleman, but also an extremely intelligent warm soul. The north imprinted on Jack well and I am proud to have had him as a teacher - both as a student and later as a professional. Jack will be missed.
Susan:
I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your brother, Jack. He will be missed by many. His legacy continues at the College and throughout the community. May choirs of angels carry him to his rest.
Pat (Larocque) Hamilton
Please accept our sympathies on Jack's passing. We worked together on the fire committee for the past several years and he was a prince of a man, devoting his time selflessly to the community.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am lost for words as Jack was my role model, teacher, and always there when you needed him. He will be missed by many, God Bless Your Family.
Tyy and Anne Dearden
I'm sorry to hear of Jack's passing and my thoughts go out to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing Jack as he constantly helped improve the lives of so many people, everywhere he went. I'll miss the twinkle in his eye as he'd share a thought in a quiet whisper - it was always brilliant, witty or funny; often all three.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
We are so sorry for the loss of Jack. Both Liz and Jack welcomed us into the community and helped us make Kenogami our home. He was my newest friend and we will deeply miss him. Our deepest condolences.
I’ve been reflecting on my time at Northern as a student with Jack, now so many decades ago. He was just one of those guys that left such a positive and lasting impression. All these years later, and all of the countless people I have met and interacted with, only a handful have come close to Jack’s humility, intellect, caring and compassion.
Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
Take care,
I am so incredibly saddened to hear the news. As Jack did for many Northern graduates.... he changed the trajectory of my entire life to which I will never forget.
Please accept my sincerest condolences..... my thoughts and prayers are with the family through this difficult time.
Aaron C.
So sorry for your loss. He will be missed
Brian and I were shocked and deeply saddened at the news of Jack’s passing. What a hole this has left in our hearts and community. Such a wonderful man…friendly, dedicated, sincere and loyal are just a few attributes to the type of man Jack was. We were so lucky to have known him. Please accept our condolences.
So sorry to hear of Jack’s passing and your loss. Our sincerest condolences.
As a classmate and housemate at Waterloo, Jack always took a more sensible approach to “extracurricular activities” than was sometimes the case with the rest of his housemates. Although we lost touch over the years, I always think of Jack when I come across an old Ariel motorcycle, as I recall that Jack’s Ariel was his pride & joy back then.
The Kenogami area has been struck by a terrible tragedy. Anita and I are overwhelmed with sadness and send our most profound condolences.
Although we are unable to attend in person on Friday afternoon, please know, Liz, that we will be present in spirit to honour the memory of a remarkable man.
His many volunteer and business accomplishments are well known, both within the community and far beyond. His volunteer contribution alone has gained the utmost respect from fellow firemen and your family can take much pride in knowing that he was highly regarded by all who knew him.
Wonderful memories will eventually replace today's utter sorrow.
Sincerest sympathy to you and your family. Treasure the memories.
I am so sorry for your loss. Jack will always hold a special place in my heart for how he pushed me to be better and calmer and to think things through more thoroughly. I am forever grateful for the lessons he taught me throughout my years in the welding program. These are lessons I have carried through my career and personal life and I will always look back on the years with great fondness! Please accept my sincerest condolences.
My sincere condolences
So very sorry Liz to you and your Family, in hearing of this tragic loss...Our deepest condolences to all.
Our sincere sympathies on your loss. We have fond memories of Jack and our get togethers. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear about Jack's passing. My sincere condolences to Liz and family. Jack was a kind and gentle soul who always took time to say Hi to me in the halls of the KL Campus. He will be missed. Hugs to you Liz.
To Jack's family and friends.
Jack was a beacon for his chosen profession. Like a lighthouse we all navigated towards him. Please know that his legacy is huge and his name is spoken with complete and absolute respect. I shall miss his smile and his simple nod across the table, we all will.
My condolences .
Mick J Pates
Our deepest sympathies. The world has lost a good man. Jack was always there to help with our art events from hanging paintings to setting up tables or helping at workshops. Such a kind, generous and community oriented man. We will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with his family.
Sue and Dave Gamble
Kenogami Lake
My sincere condolences, thinking of you all, during such a difficult time!
You're in my thoughts and prayers
Jack's passing is a great loss to all who had the privilege of knowing him. I taught with Jack for about 25 years. Jean and I have known the Paceys for over 40 years. I never heard Jack speak any angry word. He was the consummate gentleman. Our thoughts are with you all
Terry & Jean Simms and family
Jack and I were in the same class every year at KLCVI until I left after Grade 12. Hurts to lose an old classmate even though I have seldom seen him since high school. I will remember him as a nice guy.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. He was such a sweet & kind man. I feel myself lucky to have gotten to meet him, serve him when I worked at the Kenogami Bridge Inn and to be served by him as Kenogami Fire Chief when he filled my pool last summer ! He will be missed by many!❤️
My deepest condolences to the Pacey family, Jack was truly an accomplished person and a family man that will be missed.
We all have been blessed in having had the opportunity to have know and been influenced by Jack in our lives. His passion and commitment to the College, community and in particular Northerns Welding Program’s are unprecedented!!!! He has touched so many peoples lives in such a positive way, particularity the students he taught with many going onto successful life long careers in the field of welding. My sincere condolences to Liz and the family.
My sincere condolances for your loss.
Jack was a Waterloo classmate who I got to know in our 4th year. Even though I haven't seen him since then, I have heard about him from time to time via mutual friends. As I read his tributes he is still the Jack I knew all those years ago.
My deepest sympathies and condolences to Liz, family, and friends. Jack was one of the most kindest, generous, patient and influential men I've ever met. A gentle soul, but fiercely intelligent. The backbone of the college, a staple in the industry. RIP sir
Liz, please accept our heartfelt condolences, on behalf of your family. It was only a few years ago when you and Jack visited us in BC and I hoped we could repeat again soon. I cannot imagine the heartbreak you must feel of losing Jack. We have fond memories of the gentle Jack, the one who shared his Waterloo suite with Granny, complete with a full waterbed! Or the Jack who loved peanut butter so much he started making his own. We hope that time will heal your pain, and that family joys will replace the empty space he left. With love, Kathy and Peter Stivin
We are very sorry for this tragic and sudden loss of your brother. Our heart felt condolences go out to you and your family. Diane and Dave Mullin
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember those days of riding the Pacey school bus to KLCVI with Jack.
Please accept my sincere condolences and also those of my daughter, Michelle Rae.
I’ve known Jack for 45 years and find it hard to phantom that he is gone. Such a gentle, friendly and knowledgeable man who was always available to share and discuss. He will be greatly missed by the Canadian Welding world. Even if Jack wouldn’t admit it, he was an icon in the industry !
To Liz and the family, please accept our sincerest condolences.
I had the privilege of working with Jack on many fine ventures during my time at Northern College. I always understood he was the principal architect and the heart and soul of the Welding Engineering Technology program at the college. I came to understand that he had created the finest program of this type in the country and that he garnered the respect and admiration of the entire welding industry in all of Canada and beyond. He was a smart and principled man who didn't suffer fools gladly and I admired him for all of those traits. Rosa and I offer our sincerest condolences to the entire Pacey family during this difficult time.
Michael Hill and Rosa Figueiredo
Accept my condolences. Jack was a true mentor to many of us during my time at Northern College, I feel lucky to have been there with him.
Learning about Jack's passing was painful shock for me and my wife. I taught with Jack for 18 years at Northern, he was my colleague and later my boss and in both roles I never had a better person in my long teaching journey in Czech Republic, Egypt and finally Canada. Our thoughts are with you all
Milan and Kveta Matousek
We are sending our sincere and heartfelt condolences.
Our thoughts are with you.
A profound loss of an accomplished man.
Deepest condolences on your loss of Jack, my prayers are with you and your family at this sad time. May Jack Rest In Peace!
Thoughts and prayers are with you all through this time of heartbreak. He was an amazing man.
Jack was an amazing man and I have been blessed to know him. He will be missed.
I won’t be able to attend the celebration of life, but will keep Jack in my thoughts and prayers.
My heart felt condolences to family and friends.
David Taylor
Northern Grad -78
Welding Advisory Member
My son Michael, who now lives in Lakeville, Minnesota, has asked me to pass on his condolences to your family, especially Colin. He fondly remembers his years at Northern College as one of Jack's students. A contribution to the Canadian Diabetes Association will be made in his name in memory of Jack. Please accept my condolences as well.
Keith Carey
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. We will cherish all the wonderful memories we have of Jack especially his taking our wedding photos and all the get togethers we’ve had over the years.
Rob and Karen Barstead and family.
Truly sorry to hear of your husband's passing. Al and I extend our sincere condolences to you and your family.
I met this great family and Jack through my friendship with Bob and Sue. Bob invited his southern college mates up north to fish in the spring. Jack would share his fishing and outdoors knowledge and stories of past outdoor adventures with us. During these trips we were invited for a breakfast of Jack's homemade Buckwheat pancakes and of course more stories.
My thoughts are with you all.
(Andre) Mike Dawson
My deepest sympathies to your family at this difficult time.
Jack had the most difficult task of teaching Materials Science to a bunch of us Mechanical Tech knuckleheads between the 1984 and 1987 School Years. Thank goodness he was patient. He was a great teacher. And he showed us the way. We will miss you Jack. You are our “Covalent” bond forever!
On behalf,
Class of 1987 Northern Mechanical
David Delcourt
Dear Mrs. Pacey and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this difficult time.
I had the pleasure of knowing Jack as a teacher and a mentor at Northern from ‘84-‘87 and for many years after. Jack played a critical role in directing me on the right path for the next 35 years of my career in the Welding and NDE field. He will be sorely missed. Every time I start up my 2 wheeler I will think of that smile that he always had on his face.
From the Class of WE ‘87, cheers my friend.
It is with a heavy heart that I add my condolences. Jack was a shining example to so many young minds just starting their path, I know he changed my life and helped guide me in the direction I have travelled since I graduated from Northern. His instruction serve me very well in the years that followed graduation and also elevated me into an elite group of welding professional's know throughout industry; those that were lucky enough to be taught by Jack.
My deepest sympathies
I am at a loss for words…since recently learning of Jack’s passing. Liz and family, please accept my sincere condolences.
Jack was an exceptional Professor in the Welding Engineering Technology Program at Northern College…directly fostering my interest welding research and supporting my career move to Natural Resources Canada (formerly Energy, Mines and Resources) in 1982.
For more than forty plus years, we continued to cross paths at committee/industry meetings, trade shows or other special events …some notable ones in Kirkland Lake. His passion, dedication and overall contributions to welding education and the welding community in Canada will not be forgotten.
Jim Gianetto
