Robert and Donna DENHOLM

Robert Jack DENHOLM (better known as Jack) was born in St Joseph's Hospital on May 25, 1958, to John Elwood Denholm and Margaret Frances Denholm. He was the fourth of seven children and by far the funniest of them all. While things at home could be difficult at times, Jack would put on a comedic act to lighten the mood. His family will never forget the memories of him cracking what he thought to be a hard-boiled egg over his father's head and the expressions of shock from both parties when he discovered it wasn't cooked; it goes without saying he was also a fast runner back in the day. Another fond memory for all would be when he performed the ostrich walk just to get a good laugh. When friends or family were upset, he always made it his mission to put a smile back on their faces. Growing up in Dundas, Ontario, Jack worked hard helping his father around the garage, always taking things apart and putting them back together to learn how to fix things and how things worked. After his father's passing, Jack moved north securing a job at the local mill and spending a period of time with extended family. It was there he got more acquainted with Donna, who would become the love of his life.
Eventually, Jack moved back to Dundas with Donna and it was no surprise when he landed himself a job at Dundas Rad and Muffler. He was never afraid of a hard day's work or getting a little dirty. His hard work paid off and later he was hired on at J&J Garage working on vehicles for the locals, and those that would come in from out of town.

Donna Marie DENHOLM, born July 1, 1948, was married twice in her life. While her first marriage was brief, her marriage to Jack would be her love story. The two wed on August 2, 1986 and lived together on S. Quay in Dundas before purchasing a beautiful farmhouse in Noelville, Ontario. Both Donna and Jack had several things in common but they were most known for their love of animals, and throughout their lives would have cared for many cats and dogs as if they were their children.

Before heading north, Donna worked at Leon's, and eventually, the two paid off their northern home. In the late '80s and early '90s, they officially moved to Noelville, Ontario. Jack opened J.R.D. Custom Exhaust and ran his business from his property, which would be the main income for them both. While getting the business on its feet Jack picked up work at Reel Co Steel and Donna worked at The French River Inn and The Big M as a cook for a period of time before getting a job at Zellers in Sudbury. Once she retired, she would help Jack in the garage and would run into town almost daily to get parts or stop for a game or two (or several) of bingo with her best friend Anne.

Jack and Donna's lives however were not without struggle and would forever change when in the mid '90s their farmhouse caught fire and burnt to the ground. Shortly thereafter their forever home would become a house trailer that was situated on the property. It was there that they would live out the rest of their lives. Tragically on the eve of January 11, 2023, both Donna and Jack would again face another housefire, this one taking both of their lives.

While Donna and Jack had no children, they left behind many friends and family members who were blessed to have them in their lives. Jack is survived by his brothers John Denholm, Jim Denholm, and sisters Margaret Adam, Marilyn McColm, Mary Denholm, and Martha Wilkie, and several nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. While Donna has no known blood relatives to survive her, she will be forever missed by all who knew her, including all of Jack's family and, their best friends Anne and Garry Nicholls.

Just over a month before Jack and Donna's passing, Jack's mother passed and he spoke of his father for the first time since his father's passing, leaving us with words of comfort that Jack received from his father "Time can heal many things, and while it hurts now and we will never forget them, it will get easier in time."