Jack Anderson, 90, of Jefferson passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
On Valentine’s Day 1933, the world welcomed Jack Francis Anderson. He was born at home to Grace and Johnny Anderson. The cost for Dr. Sadler was $5.
Jack graduated from Bagley High School in 1950.
He served his country during the Korean War, serving in Korea and Japan and reached the rank of sergeant.
In 1955 Jack met Delores Faris in the commons at the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. This led to a two-year courtship, ending in marriage in 1957.
Jack graduated from Northwest Missouri State College in January 1961.
Their first daughter, Ann, was born in 1961. (Graduation present)
Jack started teaching at Walker, Iowa, and then moved to Menlo, Iowa, where he taught all the science and coached football, basketball, baseball and track. Jack then moved to Rippey, which was the East Greene School District.
Their second daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1973.
In 1975 Jack moved to Marble Rock, Iowa, as K-8 principal in the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Schools. He loved the school and job.! Jack then moved to Jefferson, Iowa, as the principal at the Cooper School.
In 1979 Jack was named superintendent at the East Greene School, where he stayed until his retirement in 1996.
Jack thoroughly loved his years in education. All the kids were special in his eyes. He always said, “I never met a kid I didn’t like. Always look for the ‘good.’ You can always find some.”
One of Jack’s favorite part-time jobs was officiating sports. He worked in football, basketball and baseball. He was blessed with some outstanding officials as partners: basketball — Jim Green, Gerald Lawton and Gary Paulsen; baseball — Gary Paulsen and John Turpin; football — Mike Mumma, Ted McPherson and Ron Betterton.
Jack was inducted into the Iowa High School Association Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1989 he was inducted into the Iowa High School Officials Hall of Fame. None of this could have been possible without the support of his wonderful family.
It was a great ride with a super first lady — Dee!
Jack is survived by his wife, Delores: daughters, Ann and Jennifer: grandchildren, Sara, Sean and Josey: great-grandchild, Remy.
There will be a family burial in the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery in Van Meter Iowa on Aug. 11 at 12:30 p.m. There will be a Celebration of Life at the Grand Junction Community Center on Aug. 12 from 1-4 p.m.
Jack was our favorite coach ever. I was in the East Greene schools. He was our mid-school BBall coach. Left us with so many lessons in life. Dee was a teacher, and they were a great couple. Fly high, Jack. Thank you for your kindness and the memories.
Happy Jack and I taught drivers Ed in Perry for a couple of summers. Good guy and the kids liked him a lot. RIP