Jack was adopted at birth and grew up on a farm in Kansas City, MO with his brother Gary. Jack had a happy childhood but lost his mother to breast cancer when he was very young and then a few years later he lost his father to a heart attack. He was taken care of by family but it was difficult losing his parents so young. Jack decided to join the Air Force so he could travel and have a career. He was in the Air Force for 5 years and then went to work for Texas Instruments as a machine technician and retired after 35 years. Jack met Deloris while working at TI and they dated for 10 years before getting married in 1968. Jack loved riding his Harley and took numerous trips across the country.