Jack Hering

Jack Knight Hering passed away in Phoenix on May 31, 2016. He was born March 29, 1921, in Crawford, Texas, son of Herbert (Jim) Hering and Rubye Knight Hering. Jack graduated from Texas A & M College in 1942 with a degree in agricultural science and immediately entered the U.S. Army with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served in the 61st Field Artillery Battalion of the 1st Cavalry in the South Pacific during WWII. He was wounded in the battle of Leyte, in the Philippines and was transferred to Ft. Bliss Military Hospital in El Paso, Texas, for the remainder of the war. It was there he met Norma Keehn who was with the USO. They were married in 1947 in Los Angeles. They had a son in 1949, Paul Douglas, and a daughter, Teresa Annette, in 1951. They moved back to Texas in 1952, and then to Phoenix in 1964.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Keehn Hering, in 1978. In 1982, he married Catherine Evans Herzig and shared their golden years until her death in 2009.

He is survived by brothers Jerry and Jene, son Paul, daughter Teresa, stepson William Herzig, granddaughters Jennifer Herzig Hughes and Jacqueline Hering Small, grandson Adam Herzig, and great grandchildren Kassidy McAfee, Kolton McAfee, Katie Hughes, and Andrew Small. The family will have a celebration of his life in Phoenix and later in McGregor with military honors. His ashes will be placed beside Norma.

Jack leaves you with the following advice, “Be open to life, for it doesn’t matter what you get your college degree in, you will have many different jobs in your life. Basically, what college teaches you is how to think, how to research for answers, but most important, learn that you don’t know everything, so ask questions.”

Please consider a donation to Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, or the Alzheimer Society in lieu of flowers.