Jack's Christmas Page

In Loving Memory of
John Walter (Jack) Stewart
March 1, 1922 - April 10, 2002

Dad on Christmas morning, showing off with one of his new Christmas shirts.

Dad with Santa.

Dad at Christmas.

My First Christmas In Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
with tiny lights, like heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away that tear,
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
but the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
for it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me.
I see the pain inside your heart,
but I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones.
You know I hold you dear,
and be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory of love, my undying love.

After all "Love" is a gift,
more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
as my father said to do,
for I can't count the blessings
or love he has for each of you.

So, have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
~ Author unknown

The photo on the left is from Christmas 1956, Dad, Gary & Garth. The photo on the right is my Dad,
at age 9 years old, on his sleigh.

This photo was taken many years ago and is the last photo of my dad and my Grandpa Stewart,
on Christmas. Here he is giving my dad advice, my dad was 65 years old. My dad would always say
"Listen to your father no matter how old, they know whats best."

A Soldier's Christmas
Twas The Night Before Christmas,
He Lived All Alone,
In A One Bedroom House
Made Of Plaster And Stone.

I Had Come Down The Chimney
With Presents To Give,
And To See Just Who
In This Home Did Live.

I Looked All About,
A Strange Sight I Did See,
No Tinsel, No Presents,
Not Even A Tree.
No Stocking By Mantle,
Just Boots Filled With Sand,
On The Wall Hung Pictures
Of Far Distant Lands.

With Medals And Badges,
Awards Of All Kinds,
A Sober Thought
Came Through My Mind.

For This House Was Different,
It Was Dark And Dreary,
I Found The Home Of A Soldier,
Once I Could See Clearly.

The Soldier Lay Sleeping,
Silent, Alone,
Curled Up On The Floor
In This One Bedroom Home.

The Face Was So Gentle,
The Room In Such Disorder,
Not How I Pictured
A Canadian Soldier.

Was This The Hero
Of Whom I'd Just Read?
Curled Up On A Poncho,
The Floor For A Bed?

I Realized The Families
That I Saw This Night,
Owed Their Lives To These Soldiers
Who Were Willing To Fight.

Soon Round The World,
The Children Would Play,
And Grownups Would Celebrate
A Bright Christmas Day.

They All Enjoyed Freedom
Each Month Of The Year,
Because Of The Soldiers,
Like The One Lying Here.

I Couldn't Help Wonder
How Many Lay Alone,
On A Cold Christmas Eve
In A Land Far From Home.

The Very Thought
Brought A Tear To My Eye,
I Dropped To My Knees
And Started To Cry.

The Soldier Awakened
And I Heard A Rough Voice,
"Santa Don't Cry,
This Life Is My Choice;
I Fight For Freedom,
I Don't Ask For More,
My Life Is My God,
My Country, My Corps."

The Soldier Rolled Over
And Drifted To Sleep,
I Couldn't Control It,
I Continued To Weep.

I Kept Watch For Hours,
So Silent And Still
And We Both Shivered
From The Cold Night's Chill.
I Didn't Want To Leave
On That Cold, Dark, Night,
This Guardian Of Honour
So Willing To Fight.

Then The Soldier Rolled Over,
With A Voice Soft And Pure,
Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."
One Look At My Watch, And I Knew He Was Right.
"Merry Christmas My Friend, And To All A Good Night."

Jack with family

Gary and Dad.

Jon, Jennifer, Justin, Rox-Anne, Robin, Stewart and Kris. Jack has 15 Grandchildren
and 4 Great-Grandchildren. This was taken a few years ago at my mom and dads at Christmas.

The photo on the left is Matthew and his Grandpa Jack, Christmas 2001. On the right is Jason with his Great-Grandpa Jack, also from Christmas 2001. Dad has 4 Great-Grand children sadly we couldn't all
be togeather for this very special Christmas.

Jack "Great Grandpa" with his first Great Grandson Jesse.

My Heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here. My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer, A chasing the wild deer and a following the row, My heart's in the highlands wherever I shall go.
~ Written by Robert Burns.

The photo at the top is of Jackallynn and her papa on their last Xmas together. Jackallynn was very close
to her papa and she drew this for him and put it on his grave. I snuck it off, I just didn't have the heart
to leave it behind just incase it got damaged from the rain.

The photo at the top is of Ryanne, Stewart and their papa. The photo on the bottom is of Kristopher
and his papa. Sadly you can see the the tumor had grown quite large and this would be the last photos
of my dad and his grandchildren and our last Christmas together.

Christmas 2001, my brother, Gary; his wife, my sister in-law, Karen; and my nephew, my dad's grandson, John.

The photo on the left is My sister Lana and her dad. On the right is Brenda with her dad on Christmas.

My dad had bought a bunch of these santas a few years ago and he used to always laugh when the kids would come over and press the buttons. This santa here was one of his favorites in the bunch.