Oliver "Big Dad" Jack Kaneft Jr.

Jack often said: “Without God’s guidance, my family, friends, and Marine Corps brothers, I would have never made it. God’s mighty acts in my life have been awesome.” A guiding principle of his has been: “Seek to please God and let the matter of pleasing the world take care of itself.”

Jack and Betty spent their lives together in Melrose Heights until the early Spring of 2022. Jack used to deliver The State Newspaper in this neighborhood as a high school student. He was born in St. Louis on June 14, 1929. His parents were Oliver Jack Kaneft and Alice Delgar. He lived in Chicago, Illinois and Tuscaloosa, Alabama before moving to Columbia, S.C. where he attended Dreher High School and The University of South Carolina on an athletic scholarship in 1947. He graduated from the Naval Aviation Flight Training Command in 1951. He was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Korean War as an attack pilot and forward air controller. He was awarded a Letter of Commendation with combat V by the First Marine Division. He tested and evaluated the first canted deck carrier in naval aviation history and served on the USS Antietam and USS Bennington aircraft carriers. He retired as Major after 20 years of active and reserve duty.

Jack was predeceased by his wife, Mary Anne (“Cap”) Cappelmann to whom he was devoted for 54 years and also by his son, Oliver Jack Kaneft III. They were the parents of 3 sons and 1 daughter: Oliver Jack Kaneft III (Valery), Edward Richard Kaneft, (Laurel), William Cappelmann Kaneft (Jan) and his “one and only daughter,” Helen Cary (Timothy) Walden. Jack is also survived by eight grandchildren: Oliver Jack IV (Ginnie) and Lauren Kaneft, Kristen (Todd) Joyner, Beau Kaneft (Alle’), Brent Kaneft (Jess); Madison, Brandon, and Hampton Walden and eight great grandchildren: Addie Joyner, Henry, Finley, and Anne Collins Kaneft; Kate Austen, Emerson, Hadley, and Scarlett Kaneft. Jack is also survived by his beloved sister, Alice Marilyn Minick. Other family members who are dear to him are: Linda Kaneft, mother of Kristen. Two half brothers, Arthur Freyman (Patty) and Wesley Freyman (Billie) also many nieces, nephews, and cousins in Columbia, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Texas. Jack is also survived by his wife Betty Lane Kornegay and the Kornegay children, Van, Lee Ann, and Lori (Peter Knight) and four grandchildren: Kellane Kornegay, Soren (Emma) Kornegay, Sydney Kornegay, Dylan (John) Peters. Also five great grandchildren: Malcolm and Theo Kornegay, Ellie Joy, Brinley, and John Thomas Peters.

Jack spent 33 years in the automobile business, retired, and then joined his son in his business, Colonial Packaging, Inc., which began in Bill’s garage 35 years ago. One of his favorite and most rewarding experiences was his second career working in the family business for 20+ years.

Jack was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder. His interests included daily workouts including riding his stationary bike 9 miles a day to age 92, growing Bonzai, reading the Bible, tutoring youngsters, playing chess, baking bread, and painting. He enjoyed years of sailing on Lake Murray, playing tennis, and wrote two weekly automobile columns, “The Auto Desk” for The State and The Charlotte Observer. He also wrote articles for automobile industry magazines. He held memberships in The Lettermen’s Association, Carolina Alumni Association, Marine Corps Aviation Association, The Columbia Sailing Club, and Fort Jackson Officer’s Club.

He was a member of the Columbia Sertoma Club, the Quadrille Club, board member of the Columbia Urban League, the Boys Club of Columbia, and a member of University Associates, and the Columbia Automobile Dealers Association. He also served on the Board of Richland-Lexington Technical Education.

A celebration of life service will be held this Friday, September 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, S.C. in the main sanctuary. There will be visitation after the service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Counseling Center.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.