Jack Wiebe is remembered as a regular Joe, a quality the Saskatchewan farmer never lost even as he became an MLA, then lieutenant-governor and finally a senator.
Wiebe, who died April 16 from cancer at age 70, was a “son of Saskatchewan soil,” said premier Lorne Calvert.
He never forgot his prairie roots and he represented the province well, Calvert told the legislative assembly, which observed a moment of silence to honour the man first elected the Liberal MLA for Morse in a 1971 byelection. The seat became vacant after former premier Ross Thatcher died just three weeks after a general election. Wiebe had been Thatcher’s campaign manager.
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Opposition leader Brad Wall noted that Wiebe was nicknamed Landslide Jack after winning the subsequent 1975 election by just 12 votes.
After his defeat in the 1978 election, Wiebe stayed active in politics, serving on the party executive. He was the first farmer appointed lieutenant-governor in almost 50 years when he assumed the post in 1994.
“During his time as lieutenant-governor he embodied the very essence of what we have come to expect from the position of lieutenant-governor,” Calvert said.
“He represented the crown with dignity, grace. He represented the people of this province well, displayed the fundamental spirit of what it means to be from Saskatchewan.”
Wiebe was named to the Senate in 2000 after finishing his term as lieutenant-governor, resigned in 2004 and retired to Swift Current, Sask. A state funeral was held April 24 in that city.
Wiebe was born in Herbert, Sask., married his wife Ann in 1961 and was a hog farmer before entering politics. From 1970 to 1986 he was president of L & W Feeders Ltd.
He was also involved with the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool committee in Main Centre, Sask., the Herbert Credit Union and Co-op and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.
Wiebe is survived by his wife, three daughters and four grandchildren.
