Jack was born the son of Frank and Marie (Pepke) Ehrke in Youngstown, Ohio on March 28, 1936. He married Kay Winslow on May 23, 1959 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Six years later Jack and Kay moved to Michigan where Jack worked first for carpenter contractors and eventually started his own business, Russell Building Services Corp. which his son Russ now owns. He was a gifted carpenter, proud to have helped build DTE (originally Pine Knob) amphitheater. He had a passion as a young man for scuba diving and later for building and flying radio-controlled model airplanes. He loved boating, fishing, and spending time at the family's cottage.
Jack is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kay Ehrke; children Russell (Tiffanie) Ehrke, Robert (Pamela) Ehrke, Lynn (Don) McLean, and Charlotte (Todd) Stefani; and grandchildren Duncan McLean, Colin McLean, Bryan Ehrke, Carter Ehrke, and Carson Ehrke. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Dorothy Aust.
Jack’s family invites all to a memorial gathering and Mass to be held at Christ Our Light Catholic Church, Troy, MI on Monday, August 23. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. with service starting about 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tom Hoff Scholarship Fund at Eton Academy. Donations may be mailed to Eton at 1755 Melton, Birmingham, MI 48009 or by clicking the following link:
Eton Academy Scholarship Giving - An Exceptional School for Students Who Learn DifferentlyTom Hoff Memorial Scholarship Fund | Secure Do
