John L. (Jack) McPhee

In loving memory ~

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of John (Jack) Lloyd McPhee on January 3, 2025, in Invermere, BC. He died peacefully, surrounded by love and appreciation, with Judy, his wife of 63 years, at his side.

Born in 1942 in Calgary, Alberta, Jack attended Central High School where he and Judy met in math class. After a short stint in the Navy, Jack studied economics at the University of Calgary followed by graduate work at the University of Alberta.

Jack enjoyed a distinguished career as a senior public servant, taking on various roles, including at a very young age the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of Health in Alberta. Throughout much of his career, his passion and focus was on the economics of enabling a strong, universally accessible public health system. This was followed by a focus on the economics of natural resource development in the later years. While he worked primarily for the governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta, near the end of his career in 1988 he was appointed the first Director General of the newly created Federal Department of Western Economic Diversification in Edmonton.

Jack and Judy raised their five children in Calgary, Edmonton, North Vancouver, Sherwood Park, and for most of the years in Regina, where they lived on three different occasions. Jack coached the children's soccer, hockey, and baseball teams, and he was an active curler throughout those years.

Jack retired as planned before turning 50 and contributed to the work of various boards for the first number of his retirement years.

Jack enjoyed over 30 years of active retirement, living at Wasa, BC, the lifelong stomping grounds of Judy. Along with gardening, skiing, and snowboarding, Jack enjoyed various other activities, which - due to his unfailing eagerness to step in and help out as needed - included becoming an indispensable asset in his nieces' miniature horse passion. This support featured many adventures including annual expeditions to Fort Worth, Texas, where he himself enjoyed competing at the World Championships. Jack derived immense enjoyment from golfing and playing bridge - right up to the 2023-24 winter bridge season and the beginning of the 2024 golf season. His friendships formed on the golf course and around the bridge table were so important to him, as were the connections he kept with many over the years, with some key bonds going right back to his Central High days.

Predeceased by his oldest son, J.C., in November 2023, and prior to that his parents, Lloyd and Doris, his brothers, Bill and Robbie, and numerous relations and close friends, Jack will be greatly missed by those surviving him: his beloved wife Judy; children Julie (Charles), Lloyd (Sharon), Holly, and Charles (Jennifer); grandchildren Violet (Colten) and Dahlia, Katrina, Tyche and Casey, and, Forest, Rowan, Samantha and Isabel; brother and sister-in-laws Charlie and Louise and their children Kim (Mike)and Robin; sister JoAnne; sister-in-laws Mary, Donna, Joan, and Rosalind; his nephews and cousins; and, his many close friends and extended family.

A devoted father, always there for his children through the many twists and turns of their lives, an encouraging and supportive grandfather, a keen mind, an intellect who invariably encouraged the pursuit of education while putting health first, a true friend, a good man who persistently aimed to do the right thing, Jack charted his own exceptional course. He will be dearly missed. He has left a remarkable legacy.

As Jack was when he was able to, his family remains immensely grateful for Drs. Bruce Johnson, Gareth Mannheimer, and Sidney Ang; EKRH nurses Terry and Brenda and Care Aid Amber; and, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada OT Gillian Epp, all of whose compassion, kindness, and outstanding quality of care exemplify the absolute highest excellence in public health, and those many other exceptional public health providers who made all the difference in Jack's journey in his final months.

There will be a memorial service on June 28, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Wasa Community Church.

The only obituaries authorized by the family are in local newspapers and on the Mark Memorial funeral home website. Photos and memories may be shared with the family by email: bcmcpheefamily@yahoo.com.