Tennant, minor cornelius

Minor Cornelius (Jack) Tennant
1923 – 19 January 1921
Place of birth	Saskatchewan
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Canadian Army
Years of service	1942 - 1977
Rank	Chief Warrant Officer

Obituary

Husband, father, grandfather, and Veteran. Minor was born in rural Saskatchewan in 1923. Placed in the Moose Jaw Orphanage as an infant, he was adopted and raised on a farm near Chaplin.

Called "Jack " by friends and family, at only 19, he boarded a train and left Saskatchewan to go to War. He had a very distinguished career in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. In Normandy, he served as a radio operator with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles supported by the 12 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery.

Landing at Juno Beach, his unit came under heavy shelling as they advanced forward. Jack was wounded but stayed on duty for hours, relaying messages. He lost his best friend that day. After recovering in Britain, he went back into action, contributing to the liberation of France and the rest of Europe.

While in Bournemouth, England, he met Phyllis Burden, who flew to Canada a year after the war ended to become his beautiful bride.

Jack continued his military career until his retirement in Ottawa as CWO in 1977. His post war service saw him at NATO HQ in Paris in the 1950's, peacekeeping in Vietnam 1959/60 and a posting to Egypt in 1962/63.

As a family, Jack and Phyllis and children David and Pamela lived across Canada.

Jack was always a ham radio enthusiast, speaking "over the airwaves" to folks literally around the globe and far above it. His hundreds of contact cards include those from space shuttles and the MIR space station. He was also an active member of the Legion in Richmond.

In his later years Jack and Phyllis moved to Winnipeg to be closer to their daughter Pamela, husband Reg Sherren and treasured grandchildren Mitchell and Emma.

He kept in contact with friends far and wide, including those in Normandy who never forgot him. He was awarded the Legion of Honor Medal for his service in the Liberation of France. It is France's highest military award.

Closer to home,there were also trips back to Saskatchewan to reunite with deeply treasured friends.

Jack lost Phyllis in 2014. In his final years living at Deer Lodge, he enjoyed going to the pub for a pint and listening to Reg play the guitar. Country tunes a favorite!

Another of the greatest generation is lost to us. We all loved him so very much. Happy trails Jack. We will never forget you.

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