Jack Dahlstrom Jr. died on July 15, 2021 at the age of 71. He was born in Buda, Texas, into a highway construction family, the only son of Gay Ruby Dahlstrom and Jack Dahlstrom Sr. As a result of his father’s occupation, the family moved often with the completion of highway projects. Jack attended schools in a number of small Texas towns until the family settled in San Antonio where Jack attended San Antonio Military Academy for four years and then in Dallas where he attended St. Mark’s School for four years. Jack graduated from San Antonio Military Academy as a Company commander and enjoyed playing sports there as well as at St. Mark’s. He was the stage manager for many theater productions during his high school days at St. Mark’s and added cheerleader to his sports activities.
As a young teenager, during the summers, he worked on his grandfather’s, Cecil Ruby’s, ranch in Buda– beginning a love of that land that would continue throughout his life. Also during his teenage years, Jack collected many types of records and loved music and dancing. He was always very social and a generous and loyal friend, loved by many.
While studying at Vanderbilt University he was Head Varsity Cheerleader, the President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and majored in both Economics and Engineering. His career in construction started at a Canadian company in Montreal where he worked in snow and cold temperatures much of the year and excelled at learning more about the business. In the mid-1970’s he moved back to Texas to work with his father at Dahlstrom Corporation and laterTexas Cencon. Projects he built over the years included sections of Loop 1/ MoPac in Austin, the Lake Georgetown Dam, sections of the North Dallas Tollway, site work and improvements of Dallas Love Field Airport , the Houston Ship Channel and numerous projects in San Antonio and highways and roads throughout north, south and west Texas. Jack was a thorough and hardworking leader who led with energy, compassion and perseverance.
As the family-owned highway construction business closed in the late 1990’s, Jack turned back to his love of the family ranch where he owned and operated Flatrock Wildlife – a hunting and recreational shooting business. He was a gracious host, a legendary cook, and a generous entertainer. He also supported all ranching operations for his parents who had moved back to Buda. Also during this time, he worked with his mother, Gay Dahlstrom, to create a conservation easement on the family ranch, where the ranch was still privately owned, preserving the property from ever being developed and also conserving the vital water resource of the Edwards Aquifer for generations to come. Together they created the first nature preserve in Texas owned privately and leased to a government entity for the benefit of the public. Again, he was a tireless champion of family interests and was both creative and persevering in his efforts over many years to accomplish the goal. After he closed Flatrock Wildlife, he worked full time managing the ranch, also interfacing with the rock crushing operations and overseeing the financial aspects of the family business.
He also loved countless fishing trips with friends and family and particularly treasured his time in South Africa with daughter, Cece, nephew, Saenger and their friends, enjoying African wildlife and the cities and beautiful coastline of South Africa.
Throughout these years, he was a very loving and generous father and grandfather (P.J.). He shared life daily with his daughters, Cece and Julie, via texts, videos, playful emojis, and lots of sweet packages. He was gifted in his sense of style and art and delighted in surprising his daughters and granddaughter, Harper, with gifts at all times of the year. He also decided to continue the family legacy of celebrating Easter by creating the Dahlstrom Annual Easter Eggstravaganza where family and friends hunted Easter bunnies, eggs and treats as well as enjoyed fun and food at the ranch. Preparation often included creating the amazing “see through” sugar eggs first created by family over 50 years ago.
He lived at the hunting compound he created on the ranch, always welcoming family and friends to enjoy with him the outdoor beauty of all the animals and the quiet peace and beauty of the land. His vision was to create more grasslands and take the land back to earlier times when there were more types of grasses and more habitat for indigenous wildlife.
Jack touched all of us with his optimistic attitude and joy for life, his kindness and gentleness, his loyalty and his tireless energy. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by daughters, Cece Dahlstrom and Julie Dahlstrom, Julie’s husband Dan Kanstroom and their daughter, Harper Kanstroom, three sisters, Cecilia Barrentine, Cynthia Dahlstrom and Dodi Ellis, five nieces and nephews, numerous cousins and all their families. A private memorial service will be held in the fall. Donations may be made in Jack’s memory to Hill Country Conservancy or the charity of your choice.
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