Jack C. Klingbeil passed away peacefully in his sleep at home with his family on July 27, 2024; he was 83 years old.
Jack was born on Aug. 10, 1940, in Seattle, Washington. As a child, he enjoyed camping and backpacking in the mountains and learning auto mechanics and carpentry from his dad, which served him well as an adult.
As a young man, Jack enlisted in the Navy and attended Submarine School where he finished second in his class. The following year, he transferred to an aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Bennington, CVS-20. He proudly served as a torpedoman aboard the ship from 1963-65.
After the Navy, Jack met the love of his life, Joyce, a recent widow. He loved and accepted her baby daughter, Jerilyn, as his own, and they were married on Oct. 8, 1966. They soon welcomed another daughter, Jocelyn, and moved to Vancouver, Washington. In 1972, they settled in La Center, Washington, where they raised their daughters and built their home with their own hands.
Jack had a passion for car races and even built race cars as a hobby with his friends. He was always working on various projects in his shop, and he and his friends would often help each other out. He was good with his hands, had a keen eye for detail, and a generous spirit. Jack also enjoyed watching Seahawks games, stargazing, camping in the mountains and visiting the beach with his family. Making memories for his children and grandchildren was important to him. He often shared his knowledge with his children and even built a mini race car for his granddaughter.
Jack mostly worked as an auto body mechanic, most recently for Lewis River Motors in Woodland, Washington, before retiring.
In his later years, Jack enjoyed working in his shop, gardening, yard work, bird watching, watching educational documentaries and he had a passion for World War II airplanes.
Jack is survived by his daughters, Jerilyn Juergens and Jocelyn Bowers; grandchildren Brandi Fana, Kimberly Hynes, and Tyler Bowers; nine great-grandchildren; and his brother, Dean Klingbeil. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joyce; his parents, Herman and Mildred Klingbeil; and his sister, Marilyn Sullivan.
A graveside service was held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
