More detail on this person: LOWER, JOHN
KENNETH "Jack" On August 1, 2015, Jack passed
away in his home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida,
comforted by his family and the Florida Hospital
Hospice staff. He was 73 years old. Jack was born
in Hamilton, Ohio on October 13, 1941. He was the
second child and only son of Kenneth Reed Lower
and Cecilia Rigling Lower. He is preceded in death
by his parents. Jack was an accomplished athlete
in many sports, earning a scholarship to the
University of Detroit where he was a successful
football player while earning a Bacholer's degree
in Chemistry. Jack had options to continue his
athletic career in the NFL, but chose to serve his
country by joining the Marine Corps after college
graduation. He served in Vietnam as a CH-46
helicopter pilot. In his service in Vietnam, Jack
received 20 air medals and two presidential
commendations. After his return from Vietnam,
Jack was a flight instructor in Pensacola. He
continued to fly in the Marine Corps Reserve and
retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2001. Jack
married Martha Louise Rose in 1965 In Oak Grove,
Louisiana. They made their home in Pensacola and
after several career moves to Chicago, Detroit,
and South Bend they relocated to Florida where
they resided for the last 37 years. In his
professional career in Florida, Jack was a
publisher and an owner of several Homes & Land
Magazine franchises. He was an entrepreneur who
was not afraid of a challenge. Jack was often
described as quiet, but as a neighbor commented,
"Jack does not talk much, but when he does, we
listen carefully because his words are always
thoughtful and meaningful." Jack is survived by
his wife Martha; his two sons, Kenneth Robert
Lower (wife, Jacque) and Jeffrey Thomas Lower
(wife, Beth); grandchildren, Autumn, Jules, and
Walden. He is also survived by his sister Janet
Bland (husband, Gordon Bland). A memorial mass
will be held at 11:30 am on August 22nd at Our
Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in New
Smyrna Beach. In lieu of flowers the family
requests donations be made to the Fisher House
Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420,
Rockville, MD 20850-5168. Fisher Houses provide
military families housing close to a loved one
during hospitalization (Fisherhouse.org). Online
condolences may be made
atwww.settlewilderfuneralhome.com
Published in Flint Journal from Aug. 15 to Aug.
16, 201
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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