Jack Caldwell

John W. "Jack" Caldwell passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on November 30, 2016 at the age of 89. Although he could no longer outrun the effects of the spreading leukemia, in the end he ultimately won the race, earning the prize of joining his best friend and loving wife, Mildred (Millie) Caldwell in heaven.

Jack was born to Dora and James Caldwell on January 25, 1927 in Superior, Wisconsin. At the age of 17, Jack joined the Navy for two years then returned home to Duluth, MN to graduate from Cathedral High School. He began his career in the Air Force in 1945, during which time he met and married the love of his life, Millie Nelson, in Duluth, MN. Jack's military career moved his family of six throughout the country and world. During a tour at Goodfellow AFB, he went "bootstrap" and completed his BA at Howard Payne College.

While stationed at Fort Ord in California, Jack began to notice fellow soldiers running on their lunch break and thought he might take it up. So at the age of 45, he took up something that would define the rest of his life. When Jack retired from the Air Force in 1975, he and his beloved wife Millie moved from Monterrey, California to Austin in order to be closer to their eldest daughter and first grandchild. Jack became an active and cherished member of the running community in Austin, running avidly up until his early 80s. He ran eight marathons over the course of his running career with his proudest moment being his qualifying for and running of the Boston Marathon in less than 4 hours.

When his best friend and wife of 55 years passed in 2006, his life was forever changed. Jack Caldwell was not only a veteran that served his country honorably, he was a wonderful father, loving grandfather and treasured Austinite who ran with his whole heart. He will be greatly missed, loved always and remembered forever.

He is survived by his five children: daughter Janet McCann, her husband Michael, and their children Sasha (son Jax), Lindsey (son Brody) and Marissa, all of Austin; son John and wife Danielle of San Francisco; son Joel, his wife Judith of Los Angeles, and their daughters Sarah (husband Jeremy) of Newport News, VA, and Elizabeth of San Diego, CA; daughter, Joni "Cookie" Espinoza of Savannah, GA and her son Alex of San Antonio; and, son Jerald "Jerry" of Austin. Jack was one of eight siblings, four of whom survive him: Tommy, Patty, Ed and Karen. He also leaves behind numerous extended family members and friends who will all miss him dearly.

A memorial service will be held Thurs., Dec. 8th at 10:30 AM at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, 126 W. Oltorf St. with reception following.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a cause dear to his heart (www.gazellefoundation.org/ - Dad constantly prayed for clean, potable water for those who had none.)