Jack Raymond Nothstine

Jack Raymond Nothstine, 91, of Naples, FL passed away December 1, 2017. He was the youngest of three children born to Raymond Melvin and Wilma (Johnson) in Mancelona, MI, on December 14, 1925. He attended Mancelona schools where he participated in baseball, basketball and football.

Jack was drafted during his senior year at age 18, graduating in absentia in 1944. As one of the “Greatest Generation”, he served in the 179th Infantry Battalion, 45th Infantry Division in Europe, crossed from France into Germany and was among the first Americans to enter Bamberg, Nuremberg, and the Dachau Concentration Camp. He narrowly avoided redeployment to the Pacific Theater when the war was over.

Using the GI Bill, Jack graduated from Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1950, Kansas State University in 1951 with a Masters in Civil Engineering, and later the University of Michigan with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. He worked briefly for Boeing in Seattle, Washington, where he met his future wife, Zelda Kuhns. He also worked at Hill & Ingham Engineering. He joined Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI in the early 1950s, working there until retirement in the early 1990s, when he and his wife Zelda moved to Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs, FL, and later, Bentley Village in Naples, FL. He and Zelda traveled extensively before and after retiring, and Jack was an avid skier, fisherman, tennis player and bridge player. He was a favorite uncle, known for his kindness, wonderful advice and genuine interest in his nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. All who knew Jack knew what a good listener he was.

Jack is predeceased by his siblings Leo Vaughn Nothstine and Thelma Bertine Kresnak. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Zelda, nieces Hilda (Tom) Standley, Martha (Jerry) Richardson and nephews Tom (Marja) Nothstine, Bill Nothstine, Chuck (Cynthya)Nothstine and Jim (Mary) Nothstine, and Steven (Gloria) Kresnak. His will be sorely missed by them and his many grand and great-grand-nieces and -nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to your local Humane Society.