Obituary for Jack Lounsberry
On June 14, 2023, with loved ones at his side, beloved Jack.A.Lounsberry, Commander USN, retired, passed away in his sleep in the home he built.
Jack was born on Sept.30,1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He learned his incredible work ethic at a young age. At the age of 4 he was pulling his wagon to deliver groceries from his grandparents store. By age 7 he had his first paper route and at the age 14 he became the youngest Eagle Scout in Michigan and had 2 paper routes. He then took on loading and unloading bread trucks at night while attending high school.
When he reached 17 years, he got his mother's written approval to enlist in the Navy. While stationed in San Jose, Jack met Norma Vertrees and soon they were married. Daughter Jeanne and son Scott were born there before they were transferred to Oakland, Ca. Daughters Jan, Mary and Ruth were born there and then the whole group moved to Virginia while he was stationed at Patuxent River. Son William was born there, but there were many camping trips across the country to visit families on both coasts.
Jack's final assignment was the Pentagon in Washington D.C. where he chose to retire. Jack took up real estate to keep himself busy though golf, fishing and exploring our country were also priorities. Some believe he and Norma traveled to all 50 states!
When Jack's parents decided to retire to Florida, Jack and Norma made the decision to return to their favorite station, Whidbey Island. So with possessions, kids and dogs loaded up, they once again traveled across the country and set their sights on settling down and buying a house in their old neighborhood. Real estate again came into the picture and Jack found a waterfront cabin (a raw gem) on Dugualla Bay that he just had to have. Family, friends and hired help all contributed to "remodel" the home he loved on the bay with Mt.Baker out his front window and crab in the bay just waiting for his pots to be set.
Once the house was done, he purchased 20 acres of trees, brush and berry bushes that gave him another project. Again, family and friends helped him reach his creative goals. Many a cookout, work party, and campfire were shared and stories told at "The Park". In fact, Jack was out mowing his kingdom just a week before he passed!
Jack is preceded in death by Norma in 2020, son Scott in 2006 and son Bill in 2017, and is survived by daughters Jeanne Flanagan, Janet Dority (Doug), Mary Wyman (Geoff) and Ruth Lounsberry as well as 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
We suggest donations to Meerkerk Gardens, Spin Cafe and The Alzheimer's Association.
Godspeed Dad, from all of us left here!
Jack was born on Sept.30,1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He learned his incredible work ethic at a young age. At the age of 4 he was pulling his wagon to deliver groceries from his grandparents store. By age 7 he had his first paper route and at the age 14 he became the youngest Eagle Scout in Michigan and had 2 paper routes. He then took on loading and unloading bread trucks at night while attending high school.
When he reached 17 years, he got his mother's written approval to enlist in the Navy. While stationed in San Jose, Jack met Norma Vertrees and soon they were married. Daughter Jeanne and son Scott were born there before they were transferred to Oakland, Ca. Daughters Jan, Mary and Ruth were born there and then the whole group moved to Virginia while he was stationed at Patuxent River. Son William was born there, but there were many camping trips across the country to visit families on both coasts.
Jack's final assignment was the Pentagon in Washington D.C. where he chose to retire. Jack took up real estate to keep himself busy though golf, fishing and exploring our country were also priorities. Some believe he and Norma traveled to all 50 states!
When Jack's parents decided to retire to Florida, Jack and Norma made the decision to return to their favorite station, Whidbey Island. So with possessions, kids and dogs loaded up, they once again traveled across the country and set their sights on settling down and buying a house in their old neighborhood. Real estate again came into the picture and Jack found a waterfront cabin (a raw gem) on Dugualla Bay that he just had to have. Family, friends and hired help all contributed to "remodel" the home he loved on the bay with Mt.Baker out his front window and crab in the bay just waiting for his pots to be set.
Once the house was done, he purchased 20 acres of trees, brush and berry bushes that gave him another project. Again, family and friends helped him reach his creative goals. Many a cookout, work party, and campfire were shared and stories told at "The Park". In fact, Jack was out mowing his kingdom just a week before he passed!
Jack is preceded in death by Norma in 2020, son Scott in 2006 and son Bill in 2017, and is survived by daughters Jeanne Flanagan, Janet Dority (Doug), Mary Wyman (Geoff) and Ruth Lounsberry as well as 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
We suggest donations to Meerkerk Gardens, Spin Cafe and The Alzheimer's Association.
Godspeed Dad, from all of us left here!