Jack was born September 21, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan and he left this old world for his Heavenly home on August 21, 2023. He grew up in the Detroit area where he attended school and was active in playing football and baseball and was an avid sports enthusiast. Jack also loved music and played his trombone in the concert band, marching band, and swing band while in High School. He attended Bob Jones College for a short time after High School in Cleveland TN. Then afterwards he attended Detroit Commercial college majoring in business administration and graduated in 1948.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 7, 1951, and served his country for two years during the Korean war. He served as acting legal Officer administering court martials for the 501St Airborne Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as a Corporal at Camp Breckinridge Kentucky.
Jack worked several jobs during his life in the Detroit area. He worked for the Chrysler corporation in different capacities. Eventually Jack went to work in the insurance industry where he spent most of his career working for the Nationwide Insurance Co. and for the National Causality Insurance company. Jack eventually retired 1988.
Jack had many hobbies and interests in his life. As we shared, he was a sports enthusiast and was a loyal fan to the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Pistons. He was also a big University of Michigan fan!
Before he retired Jack and his family traveled to most of the fifty states and enjoyed taking in all the sites unique to each state. He enjoyed playing games and putting puzzles together and spending time with family and friends. He also enjoyed being a handyman around the house doing many do-it-yourself projects.
Jack was married to Betty Fulkerson, and they had one child Dawn Newman who resides in Las Cruces N.M. Jack and Betty were divorced in 1987 and she passed away in Louisville Kentucky in 2018.
Jack remarried Marilyn McLain in 1994 and moved to New Mexico at the end of that year. They made their home in Las Cruces and became very involved in the Las Cruces First Assembly of God church. Marilyn was serving at LCF as an administrative assistant at the time of her death and was a tremendous blessing to the church and everyone who knew her. Marilyn went to be with the Lord on November 11, 2016. Her son Kevin and daughter in law Shelia McLain, lives in the Detroit Michigan area. Jack and Marilyn have two grandchildren, Justin McLain, and Mackenzie McLain who they dearly loved.
Jack was not only a musician but a talented Worship leader. He led worship and played his trombone in several of the churches he attended in Kentucky, and Michigan. Jack was also a passionate Bible teacher and taught the Bible for over fifty years. He taught an adult Bible study class at Las Cruces First for over eighteen years and especially enjoyed teaching Bible Prophecy.
We thank many who have helped care for Jack since Marilyn passed. But a special thanks goes to Celso and Christine Vigil who have been loyal friends and has served Jack by caring for him over the past six years. They have truly demonstrated the love of Christ through their actions and through their service to Jack.
On a document in Jack’s files, we found most of this information that was organized and laid out for us. One of the last statements Jack made in this document read…
“But most of all, I look forward at last to my promotion to Heaven, where I will stand face to face with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have been faithful to Him since I was 12 years of age, but not always too well. Still, He welcomes me with all forgiven, just as though I’d never sinned, because His blood sacrifice covers all my shortcomings, and I am part of His Bride – a love relationship that will last eternally!”
Finally, there will be a Memorial service for Jack on September 5th at 10:00 AM at Las Cruces First Assembly of God church at 5605 Bataan Memorial West. Please join us as we celebrate Jack’s life and faith in Jesus Christ!
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