Remembering My Brother, Jack

Yesterday, December 3, 2012, my oldest and only remaining sibling, Jack, passed away in Greenbrae, California.

Jack Edward was born in Anderson, Indiana,  on May 14, 1927, the first child born to Mark and Gladys Green.  Jack would become big brother to four siblings:  Clyde, Dan, David, and Phyllis.

Being the only girl and the youngest in the family, and being nine years younger than Jack, I was always rather in awe of this older brother - my hero.  And while he always teased his brothers, he was  very kind and sweet with his little sister.

As tiny tots during the depression, Jack and Clyde along with Mom and Dad, lived with our Grandpa and Grandma Lininger.  Families had to do that to survive the depression.  Jack was always especially fond of both Grandma and Grandpa.  Jack and Grandpa Lininger were actually a lot alike.  Grandpa was very creative, mechanical, inventive, and an excellent craftsman.  Jack admired his skills, and had a lot of the same talents.

Jack graduated from Anderson High School in 1945, and was immediately drafted into the military right at the end of World War II.  He was sent to Germany, but never served in battle, as the war ended that summer when he was drafted.  After Jack finished his military service, he came home and immediately enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington.  I was only nine years old when he left in 1945, and Jack never was to live at home again - only coming home at holiday times.

It was always fun when Jack and all the boys were home for the holidays.  Jack was always the great tease and kidded his brothers and our mother unmercifully.  Mother loved it when all the boys were home.  We all loved the laughter and fun.

After graduating from Indiana University where he was in the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and was editor of the yearbook, Jack married Dori and moved to Indianapolis.  Dori and Jack moved to Californina where Dori, a jazz pianist and vocalist, could pursue her career.  While they were married they lived in the San Francisco area and had three children: Richie, Karen, and Chris.

The marriage ended.  The children grew up.  Jack remained living in the bay area.  Richie works in the computer industry.  Karen, an artist, is the widow of author, David Foster Wallace.  And Chris works in the film industry as a cartoonist.

Jack was remarried to Stephanie, and they lived in Greenbrae, California.  Jack and Stephanie used their creative and craftsmanship skills to operate a home and furniture rehab business.

Stephanie has been a loyal and faithful wife to Jack, taking care of him through these last years of illness.
I feel very grateful to her for taking such good care of Jack as his health failed .  I am also grateful to the Nursing home facility that provided compassionate care during his long illness.  Thank you, Stephanie, we look forward to having you with us in Indiana whenever that is possible.

As I remember my brother, Jack, I remember that very handsome guy with a unique sense of humor who loved to tease everyone.  I remember a guy who was artistic and creative, a guy who loved cars and photography - a guy who loved a good laugh.  I imagine that he is somewhere having a good laugh on all of us because he beat us to a better place!