Jack Arthur Leach

Jack was born March 17, 1935 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the fourth son born to Darrell Lee and C. Lucille (Willis) Leach. The family moved from Iowa to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1943; then to Montrose, Colorado in 1950. Jack graduated from Montrose High School in 1952 and attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1957 with a B.A. in Speech (Radio & Television). He received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri in 1968. He married his high school sweetheart, Janet McCunniff, on December 14, 1957.

He was commissioned into the Air Force in 1957 and made a career out of the service, attaining the rank of full colonel before retiring in August 1984. Along the way he flew thousands of hours in B-50s and C-130s including a tour in Vietnam. The majority of his career was in the Strategic Air Command where his crew and Missile Wing won the first Minuteman Missile Competition in 1967 and where he served as the Base Commander in Grand Forks, North Dakota and the Titan Wing Commander in Little Rock, Arkansas.

In 1959, Jack and Janet had their first child, Greggory Allen followed the next year by Shauna Marie and finally Cynthia Kay in 1963.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, Jack and Janet moved to Denver, Colorado where he worked for Martin Marrietta until 1988. They moved as full-time retirees to Peoria, Arizona in 1994. In retirement he and Janet traveled the world including a cruise completely around South America and trips to Israel, Europe, Russia, Australia, and China. He volunteered at soup kitchens / food banks and built homes on the Navajo Nation. Jack was an avid outdoorsman traversing the state of Colorado by bicycle in six Ride the Rockies events. He also enjoyed hiking, skiing, and golf. He drove the same MG he purchased in 1970 until he could drive no more; the last few years with a handicapped license plate and his walker sticking out of the back seat. Jack loved family, friends, history and peace and of course the show Friends, all desserts, peanut butter and mustard sandwiches, and Colorado peaches.

Those left to cherish Jack’s memory are his wife Janet; son Gregg and daughter-in-law Kathy; son-in-law Jack O’Brien; daughter Cindy and son-in-law Tim Horacek; six grandchildren: John O’Brien, Katie Miller {Matt}, Ryan Leach {Sirena}, Tim Leach, Justin Horacek and Andrew Horacek; one great grandchild, Luella Miller; and eight nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Shauna O’Brien, parents Darrell and Lucille Leach, brothers Darrell, Doyce and Paul, and sisters-in-law Marion and Carolyn.

We are honored to celebrate the dash between the day he entered this world and the day he left it. We encourage you to do the same.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth. . .

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Memorial services will be held at Willowbrook United Methodist Church, 19390 N. 99th Ave, Sun City, AZ 85373 on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, Disabled American Veterans or UMOM New Day Centers (donation links below).