Jack Nevans died peacefully in his sleep at his home on October 28th. Jack was a loving husband to Verena, his wife of 63 years, and a devoted father, granddad and great granddad. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandsons, one of whom was named after him. He was a life-long Permian football and Dallas Cowboy fan, and during every season, depending on how they played that week, would declare that the Cowboys were either going to win the Super Bowl, or that they would be lucky to win another game!
Jack was born on October 8, 1922 in Ft. Stockton, TX. He was the seventh of eight kids. His dad Clarence was a farmer and a water well driller. When he was 6 years old, his mother Josephine passed away and Jack lived with his older sister Olive Dyche in Crane, TX. Olive raised Jack like a son and he loved her deeply. He also lived with his older brother Frank and sister Minnie in Alpine for periods of time, and with his brothers Babe and Jim Gus. He was very close to all his brothers and sisters, and between them they managed to raise him during the depths of the Great Depression.
Jack was drafted into the Army in 1943 and spent the next three years serving his country. He was the squad leader of the machine gun squad of the First Platoon in the 44th infantry division, then was transferred as a Sergeant in charge of the 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Company D, 5th Regiment of the 71st Infantry, serving under General Patch and General Patton. His Squad was stationed on the front line in France, then crossed the Rhine and spent two months crossing through Germany into Austria. By the end of the war, the 5th Regiment was taking prisoners in the German Dachau Concentration Camp.
After he was discharged, Jack wound up in Fort Stockton, TX working for Alamo Motor Lines. While in Ft. Stockton, Jack met Verena, who was working as a waitress in a local café. After several failed attempts, he convinced Verena to go on a date, and they were married two weeks later. They moved to Odessa in 1952 where Jack worked as a salesman and manager for Shaffer Tool Works and OD Rentals. He retired in 1986.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Jim Gus, Frank & Babe, and his sisters Olive, Minnie & Rita. He is survived by his wife Verena; his daughter Terry and her husband Bob Sayles; his son Jerry and his wife Sharon; grandchildren Brian & Alison Nevans , Casey Sayles, Brad & Sheena Nevans, Cody Sayles, and Blaine Nevans; great-grandchildren Gage Sayles and Jack Nevans; and his nieces Claro Jo Kleine and Janet Tyson. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all.
The family will entertain friends at the Frank Wilson Funeral Home on Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 4 to 6 pm.
Graveside services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 1, 2010 at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Services are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.
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