WARWICK has mourned the loss of an incredible man with the passing of Mr Jack Littler.

The recipient of an Order of Australia medal passed away peacefully on July 15 at the age of 95.

He was well known in the Warwick community for his hard work and 30 years of dedication to the Endeavour Foundation.

Jack's life was filled with remarkable achievements and great stories.

He was born in Spring Hill, Brisbane on May 2, 1920.

After his senior years at Brisbane Boys Grammar School, Jack decided he wanted to join the RAAF with aspirations to become a fighter pilot.

His dream was short-lived and he joined the mechanical cavalry with mates at Redbank.

It wasn't long before he learned about warfare and he was lined up and selected for various army service units.

He participated in the long treks along the Kokoda Trail. Through rain, heat and mud, he carried guns with the enemy in front, shooting bullets over his head.

He was involved in a number of similar skirmishes and witnessed his mates suffer from life-threatening injuries, sometimes death.

It was during his time on the Kokoda Trail he caught malaria. Later on in his army service, he was instructed to lead a patrol at Jensen's Creek, in Papua-New Guinea.

It was on this trip he was shot in the lower left leg, which broke both of his bones.

A hand grenade was thrown at him by the enemy shortly after and a fellow soldier covered him from the blast.

Jack's daughter Anne Stevens said he regarded those men as his heroes.

September 10, 1942, marked the end of Jack's combat experience.

He spent the next 22 months in various hospitals repairing his legs.

In 1946 he went to the University of Queensland to study for a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree.

While he was at university he met his wife, Sheila, who also would later receive an Order of Australia Medal.

Jack was known for his big heart and helping hands.

Sheila said on a couple of occasions she would be waiting for Jack, who would be running late and finally greet her blackened with soot because he had stopped to fight a fire on his way.

Jack and Sheila married in February 1948 while he continued his studies.

It was in September that year they welcomed their first child, Anne.

Eventually Jack was sent to South Johnstone, in Far North Queensland, to research tea and work on rice and tropical fibres.

Their second child, Robert, was born while he carried out his research.

After six hears at South Johnstone, Jack was transferred to Toowoomba, where children Jenny and John were born.

His daughter, Jenny, had a dramatic influence on Jack and ultimately influenced his work for the intellectually handicapped, which led to his Order of Australia medal.

The Littlers moved to Warwick in 1960 after living in Toowoomba for four years.

It was then Jack, a senior research agronomist with the DPI, became a chairman of the Endeavour Foundation Warwick branch, a position he kept for 30 years.

Both he and Sheila were among the foundation members.

His fifth child, Ken, was born not long after the family arrived in Warwick.

Mr Littler was deeply committed to the RSL and was ultimately awarded a life membership to the association.

He never missed a dawn service on Anzac Day.

He was also a committed member of the Warwick Little Theatre Group for many years.

"While Dad worked hard in the community, he also did many small acts of kindness," Mrs Stevens said.

"He could never pass a hitch-hiker and we would cringe when we saw one on the side of the road, knowing we would be made to move over and squash up so that the person could fit in.

"On a few occasions they were even given a bed for the night and money to help them on their way."

After Jack retired in 1980, he achieved his dreams and bought a three-hectare block at Allora.

"This holds many happy memories for us and especially the grandchildren."

In Jack's later years, he developed Parkinson's Disease and his wife cared for him until her health began to decline.

"We will miss you, Dad."