Jack Coles

Jack Coles was born June 30, 1932 to a ranching family in South Dakota. His parents, Oscar and Stella, were among the original homesteaders at the turn of the century. Jack’s vocational life always revolved around livestock and land management. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, and eventually a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics. After college, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Army, and served as an infantry officer in South Korea. He was a Reserve Officer for over 30 years, finally retiring with the rank of Colonel.

After Jack’s post-college overseas deployment, he returned to South Dakota both to manage the family ranch and to command the local National Guard unit.

In the midst of that, he completed graduate school, and married the love of his life, the Korean physician, Mija Ham. The early 60’s brought an exciting career transition as Jack left ranching to take an assignment with the US State Department in Thailand. This began a 25 year adventure as an international livestock and agricultural advisor in multiple foreign lands to include India, Indonesia, and East Africa.

Jack and Mija raised four children while “on-the-field”. The kids grew up with unique experiences from elephant rides at birthday parties, to Christmases at Kilimanjaro.

Jack and Mija became full-fledged Texans in 1990 when they moved to Temple. Grandchildren and Temple Bible Church made Central Texas especially home to them. After they were both retired in 1999, the couple embarked on a missionary project with a hospital in Tanzania that lasted a decade and a half -- Mija with her medical skills and Jack with his management abilities. He managed many charity projects including construction of an orthopedic center, a spring water pipeline and septic system to the hospital, and providing firewood for the Maasai outdoor kitchen.

Jack loved the brothers of Thursday morning Men’s Bible Study, and his second family of Sammons Senior Swim. He loved to make biscuits and gravy breakfast for family & friends. He loved to hunt, and to care for his horses and his dogs. He is remembered as having a generous spirit, a tireless work ethic, a strong sense of justice and fairness. He was always looking out for the underdogs. Above all, he loved God and his family.

He is survived by his dear wife Mija, sons Stuart, Scott, and Woody, daughter Tina, grandsons Sean, Garrett, and Jordan, granddaughters Kelly and Ayanna, and his sister, Phyllis Wipf of Spearfish, SD.

Visitation to be held on Saturday, July 21, 2018 from 3-5:00 pm at Scanio-Harper Funeral home. Funeral service will be on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at 3:00 pm at Creekside Center, Temple Bible Church. Private family burial will take place at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Bible Church Missions Fund, 3205 Oakview Drive, Temple, TX 76502.