Chalmer Jackson “Jack” Daines, 86, passed away Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, at Heritage Manor in Elroy.
He was born to Hazael and Beatrice (Erwin) Daines on Oct. 26, 1927, in La Farge. Jack always said that his father wanted a tractor when he was born, and if he had been a girl his name would have been Alice, after Allis Chalmer Tractors.
Jack grew up in Valley, where he attended grade school. He went on to high school in Hillsboro, and during high school, in 1944, he lied about his age to join the Navy, for which his brother, Germaine, was serving on a battleship in the Pacific.
After the Navy, Jack lived in Milwaukee, where he met the love of his life, Joan Castona, at a community dance. Joan and a friend bought their tickets for the dance from Jack, and as the girls walked away, Joan told her friend that she was going to marry that man. Jack and Joan were married Sept. 4, 1948, in Valley.
Jack was a “jack of all trades” and could do almost anything well. He worked for the Kickapoo Oil Company during the company’s early days. However, the majority of his career was spent on a bridge crew, for which he worked as a crane operator for Edward Kramer & Sons. This opportunity allowed him and Joan to travel all around the United States and make many wonderful friends along the way. Jack never met a stream he didn’t love to fish or a golf course he didn’t love to play. He made friends easily and was often the life of the party wherever he went.
After retirement, Jack and Joan spent their winters in sunny Arizona and returned to Valley in the summer months. Jack cared for Joan for seven years, as Alzheimer’s slowly took over her life. He only stopped caring for her when he was called to heaven.
Jack is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan; three children, Jan Litton, Jeff and Jenifer (James) Hunter; four grandchildren, Jackie Pitkin, J. Phillip, Jelora (Tony) Coman, and Jesse (Lisa) Hunter; and three great-grandchildren, Jecole Coman, Joel Coman and Juliette Hunter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hazael and Beatrice Daines; his brothers, Dallas and Germaine; a sister-in-law, Bernadine; and his grandchildren, Joshua and Roxanne Daines Steele.
Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service for Jack at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Pastor Bruce Milleman will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until the time of service. The Picha Funeral Home is serving the family.
