Jack Lotz

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jack (Jakob) Lotz on November 19, 2021, at the age of 86.

Jack was born in Brsljanica Mala, (former Yugoslavia), to Heinrich and Anna (Hamburger) Lotz. He immigrated to Canada in 1954 from Austria after enduring refugee camps and the tribulations of a war-torn Europe.

In 1962 Jack met the love of his life, Nancy Elbera Laham. The pair were married on her 22nd birthday, March 9, 1963, and spent 52 years together before her sudden passing. Together, they raised their three children, Andrew, Jason, and Bahia. Jack loved to share his knowledge and love for hunting, fishing, and gardening with his family. He shared these passions with his grandchildren and the knowledge will surely be shared with generations to come.

After arriving in Canada, Jack learned to speak English. He attended MIT, studying painting and decorating while working for the Winnipeg School Board. Soon after, Jack started Modern Paperhanging Painting and Decorating Ltd. In 1966 he met Bob Clarke, a salesman at Western Paint, and the two became best friends. Jack was a Red Seal Journeyman Painter and truly a master of all trades.

Jack loved the outdoors. He loved his garden and working with his hands. He had a creative, hardworking nature, and was a loving and generous father. He never met an animal that didn’t crawl right into his lap. Jack and his friend Bob would annually collect Monarch butterflies and protect them until hatching. As a beekeeper, Jack’s honey production was well sought after, and he was happy to share with his friends and family. And mushrooms? Jack would walk through the forests, confidently sharing which mushrooms were safe to pick and cook and which were not.

Jack loved games. He would rarely turn down a weekly golf game with Andrew and his in-laws, the LeBleus. Jack would often lead the foursome with his straight down the fairway shots and would rarely lose a ball. Off the fairway, he loved card games and enjoyed games of crib with his family and friends. He was the luckiest card-shark around!

Jack will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his children, Andrew (Karen) Lotz, Jason (Diane Laurencelle) Lotz and Bahia (Jim) Taylor; seven grandchildren, Amber (Brady McGonigal) Lotz, Austin (Caitlyn) Lotz, Hanna Taylor, Aubrey Taylor, Jackson Lotz, Andera Lotz, and Nigel Taylor; and his great-grandson, Garner Lotz. Jack is survived by his youngest sibling, Elizabeth (Gordon) Greb; sister-in-law Herma Lotz; and predeceased by his parents and siblings, Conrad, Henry, Kate Smith, Paul, John, Lischen, and Anne Fritz; brothers-in-law, Ernie Smith and Adam Fritz; and sisters-in-law, Theresa and Ruby Lotz; niece Mary Lotz, and nephew Helmut Fritz.

Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held on Monday, December 13, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. in the Buntain Chapel of Calvary Temple Church located at 440 Hargrave Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The service will be livestreamed from www.ctwinnipeg.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam may be made to Ducks Unlimited. https://www.ducks.ca/how-to-help/