Jack Benjamin Ballas

Jack was born on Tuesday, August 25th, 1936, in Pueblo, CO to father Benjamin Felix Ballas and mother Lorine Ann Spiess. He grew up in Pueblo with his younger brother Tom. They enjoyed the outdoors and liked to spend time at their cabin in Rye, CO. Jack attended high school at Pueblo Catholic High School and graduated in 1954. He went on to attend Pueblo Junior College where he earned an Associate in Arts in 1956, followed by the completion of a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO in 1958.

After graduation, Jack moved to Seattle and worked for The Boeing Company for his entire career. He worked through several roles, beginning as an Aeronautical Engineer and eventually concluding as Flight Test Supervisor prior to his retirement in 1995. He supported most of the major Boeing platforms beginning with the 707 through 767, with notable efforts on 727 and 757.

Jack was a member of the Chancellor’s Club, a Seattle-based Catholic singles organization. That is where he met Marjorie Druffel, a recent graduate of Holy Names College and Marketing Representative for Carnation corporation. The two hit it off and the story goes that when Jack proposed, Marjorie stated “I’ll give you an answer in a month.” Fortunately, the answer was “yes” and he married Marjorie on July 15th, 1961. They celebrated 64 years of marriage prior to Marjorie’s passing on August 31, 2025. A faithful servant of God, he lived a life devoted to his faith, family, and community. Jack was a devout member of the church and regularly attended mass at St. Louise Parish, St. Madeleine Sophie, and St. Monica’s.

Jack enjoyed working in the yard and was a strong role model of work ethic to their six children. The family has a saying of going into “Jack Ballas mode,” which simply translates into being highly focused on the task at hand, and putting in the hard work to get things done. Jack shared his love of the outdoors with his family, and on the weekends, Marjorie, Jack, and their six children spent time together at their cabin on Lake Cushman where they enjoyed hiking and riding motorcycles.

Jack is survived by his children: Michele (Ben) Wells of Kona, Hawaii, Michael (Shaunna) Ballas of Snohomish, Dale (Wendy) Ballas of Cle Elum, Lori (Jay) Pittenger of Ellensburg, Dave (Annette) Ballas of North Bend, and Gary (Angie) Ballas of Redmond, WA; grandchildren: Kyle, Breanna, and Natalie of Sammamish, Lindsey (Brett) of Bellingham, Kyra, Jillian, and Mason of Snohomish, Shane (Jasmine) of Cle Elum, Amber of Enumclaw, Ashley of North Bend, Kevin (Rae) of Renton, Joel (Kristin) of Carnation, J.D. (Emily) of Kent, Justin of Bellevue, and Monica and Fiona of Redmond; his 12 great-grandchildren: Cyprus, Cedar, Zoe, Mavrick, Emilia, River, Reece, Tatum, Avery, Nora, Valerie, and Kaleah (born November 7, 2026). He is also survived by his Sisters-in-law, Patty Druffel of Colton, WA, Frankie Ballas of Pueblo, CO and Connie Palmer of Lynnwood, WA.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie Ballas, brother Tom Ballas, and grandson, Colby Ballas.

Family and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, starting at 11:00 A.M. at St. Louise Parish, 141 156th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98007. (Family is invited to a viewing at the church preceding the Mass from 10:00 A.M. to 10:45 A.M.). A reception at Sunset Hills Funeral Home, 1575 145th PL SE, Bellevue, WA 98007, will immediately follow the Mass.

"A man is great not because of what he has,

but because of who he is; not because of what he possesses,

but because of what he shares with others." – St. John Paul II