Obituary of John Elgin Geddes

Jack transitioned to his eternal home after his sojourn at Trinity Village Care Centre and Parkwood Mennonite Home with memory loss for the last eight years. Jack was born in Walkerton and grew up on a farm at Burgoyne where he was the eldest of siblings, Beth Whinfield (2016) (Barry 2002), Eleanor Ireland (Jim) of Owen Sound, and Alex (Bev) of Ottawa. Husband of his devoted wife, Florabell Marie Groff (Betty) for 62 years. Predeceased by his parents, Alex and Myrtle (Reid). Father of Paul (Juliette), Heather Cooper (Earl), Deb Schlichter (Paul), David (Chia-Chi), Maria Milne (Rob) and John A. Missed by 14 grandchildren, Alexis, Vanessa, Alex and Nicholas Geddes, Jen Cowan (Jon), Kate Narsingh (Tom), Laurie Hubbard (Kyle), Jeremy (Nisa), Aaron (Laura) and Tamara Schlichter, Kinnison Ma and Alisia Mar, Justin and Ainsley Milne and three great-grandchildren, Evan and Gabriel Cowan and Kenneth Hubbard. Also missed by brothers-in-law William (Janet), Robert (2015, Mary), and Arthur (Sandra) Groff and many nieces and nephews. Jack attended Port Elgin High School and graduated from Waterloo College then part of the University of Western Ontario. He spent his senior year at United College, Winnipeg while pastoring Virden Presbyterian Church. He spent three summers with C.O.T.C as Chaplain at Camps Borden, Shilo, and Ipperwash. After graduation and marriage in 1954, Jack and Betty lived in Brampton where Jack taught at the Ontario Boys Training School for two years and then in the Chesley District High School until volunteering to teach under the Presbyterian Mission Board in Taiwan, then known as Formosa. Jack taught at Tamkang High School and soon at Tamkang College of Arts and Sciences. After completing a Masters degree in English and History at U of Waterloo in 1974, Jack taught full time at Tamkang University where he became Professor of English and History until mandatory retirement in 1996. He then became Ecumenical Secretary for the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and later taught English at Taiwan Theological College before retiring to Canada in 2003. His main interests were studies of World War 1, genealogy and involvement at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo as a retired Elder. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb St. W., Waterloo followed by burial at Parkview Cemetery and reception at Knox at noon. Donations to the Canadian Bible Society, House of Friendship, or Knox Presbyterian Church Outreach would be appreciated rather than flowers and may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.