William G. Jack

William G. Jack went to be with his lord, Jesus, at 4:00 a.m., Monday, November 3,2008. Bill would have turned 87 years old on November 4th. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife, Ruby, and his daughter, Gretchen. Bill was born November 4, 1921 in Herrin, Illinois to William and Bess Jack. He was one of three children born to this union. He attended school in Herrin and graduated in 1939 from Herrin High School. Bill also earned a BS in Business in three years and graduated with honors from the University of Illinois. During his college years, Bill was the president of his fraternity and was co-captain of the tennis team. During his last year of college, Bill went to Officer Training School and, after his graduation from the University of Illinois, enlisted in the United States Army and achieved the rank of Captain. Bill spent most of his time in Europe as a reconnaissance pilot during World War II. After the war ended, Bill remained in Europe and served as a pilot for the Nuerenberg trial investigators and flew them to Nazi concentration camps throughout Germany. When he returned home after the war, Bill went to work for his father at Herrin Lumber Company. After his father’s passing, Bill ran and operated Herrin Lumber at various locations in Herrin. In 1978, Bill sold the lumberyard and went to work for Wolohan Lumber in Marion. He retired from Wolohan’s in the early 1990s. Bill was involved in many civic organizations, such as Herrin’s Rotary Club, and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Herrin. Bill served on the church’s board, was a Sunday School teacher for many years, and often sang special numbers when asked. Bill also had a gift of oration and would conduct presentations for many groups, clubs, and churches throughout the area. Bill inherited the love of poetry from his mother and he committed to memory dozens of poems. He would often recite those poems to his family and friends. His favorite poem, Old October by James Whitcomb Riley, was one he recited to his family just one week before he passed away. Bill married the love of his life, Ruby Ingram, on October 3, 1943 in the First Baptist Church of Herrin and together they shared 65 years of marriage. Survivors are his wife, Ruby Jack, of Herrin; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Tabby Jack, of Castle Rock, Colorado; daughter and son-in-law, Gretchen and Andrew Fleming; of Chesterfield, Missouri, and daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Ed Renshaw of Carterville, Illinois. Bill is also survived by seven loving grandchildren, Caleb Jack, Joshua Jack, Ruby Nell Jack, Rachel Renshaw, Jessica Renshaw, Brock Renshaw, and Scout Fleming. He also leaves behind one sister and brother-in-law Maureen and BobWaring and a nephew, Jack Kirsch. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 4, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Van Natta Funeral Home in Herrin. Services will be Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 11:00 am with officiating will be Ed Hoke and Donny Colson officiating. Burial will be in the Herrin City Cemetery and military rites will be presented by Herin’s VFW Post and American Legion Post.