Jack Dean Billman

Jack Dean Billman went to be with our Lord and Savior on Christmas Day. Jack was born to Loretta and Earl Billman in Hidalgo, Illinois. He married Joan Ann Pike on July 28, 1968 in Arlington, Illinois. They have three amazing daughters: Jodi (Sherman) Atkinson (Utah), Jill (Larry) Price (Texas), and Jami (Kent) Keller (Colorado). They have six wonderful grandchildren: Kyle and Kyra Atkinson, Nic, Sam, and Ben Price, and Hayes Keller. He was an original member of the Emmaus Christian Church, Limedale.

Jack was a strong, active, and healthy man all of his life. He died from complications from hip surgery.

Growing up with limited resources, Jack worked many farm jobs in his community throughout his grade school and high school years. After graduating from Newton High School in 1954, where he was on a winning football team, he enlisted in the United States Army. After his Honorable Discharge, he worked many odd jobs and used his veterans benefits to attend Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa, Oklahoma to become a commercial airline pilot. He flew with several transport companies before being one of the first new hires in ten years for Trans World Airlines (TWA). He met the love of his life, Joan Ann Pike, at the Denver Airport, both checking in for their early morning flights. Joan, a flight attendant based in New York City, and Jack, a First Officer based in Chicago, were married two and a half months later.

As a pilot for TWA, Jack flew international and domestic flights for 26 years retiring as a Captain in 1989. Having moved to Greencastle in 1977, he built the family home out in the country, farmed, repaired most anything, was well read, and kept up on world events and local politics.

In 2009 Jack and Joan established the Greencastle Defenders of Liberty Tea Party. Congressmen, State Senators, Representatives, other office holders and important personalities were guest speakers each month over the seven year run serving the public.

Jack was an honest, trustworthy, intelligent, hardworking man with a commanding presence. He was a fine husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved his dog, Carly Girl, an 11-year-old Black Lab, who left this earth on November 28th to wait for him at the Rainbow Bridge. The world has lost a good man who will be greatly missed by many, especially his family.

Jack's younger sister, Cindy (Ron) Murphy, resides in Joliet, Illinois. His deceased siblings were Barbara Swanson, Earl, Dick, Tom, and Jimmy Billman. He is survived by several nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life this summer when the family will gather together during Jack's favorite time of the year.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.HopkinsRector.com.