John Ketter Jr.

Smilin’ Jack Ketter, 92 of North Palm Beach, died on January 17, 2011. Jack was born in Evanston, Illinois on August 5, 1918. He became a professional musician while a high school student, playing saxophone and clarinet in his own band. Later he and his wife Helen, who grew up on the same street, traveled the U.S. with various Big Bands. After relocating to Florida in the early 1950’s, he started a new band in the Palm Beach area. One of his favorite gigs was the county home. Years after those performances, he was approached by people who remembered his lively renditions of folk and fairy tales accompanied by the clarinet.

While continuing as a musician, Jack became a real estate salesman, broker, appraiser, builder and developer. His main interest was investing in commercial real estate in Florida and other states. He never retired. Wearing his wide-brimmed hat and a smile, he was a familiar sight to his local tenants at Sunny Plaza, and seldom missed a day at his office. Jack enjoyed his boat, ballroom dancing and world travel almost till the end. He served as president of the North Palm Beach Civitan Club twice and was voted Civitan of the Year in 1967.

Jack and his wife, Helen Jaeger Ketter, recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with cake, ice cream and reminiscences of their life together. He is survived by Helen, sister, Marge Ketter, daughters, Pamela Browning and Candace McKey, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Howard-Price Funeral Home on Friday Janaury 21st from 5 pm to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Smile Train PO Box 96231 Washington, DC 20090-6231 online at www.smiletrain.org or to your favorite charity.