Jack R. Kearns

JACK R. KEARNS
1925 – 1977

Jack was born in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, and attended grade school at Evanston. After graduating from Fort Dodge High School in 1943, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1947. He received baccalaureate degrees from Loran College in Dubuque and Iowa State University, Ames, and a master’s degree in executive development in public services from the Ball State University’s overseas progam.

Jack taught in Hayward, California, before joining DoDDS in 1957. His first assignment was at Clark Air Base in the Philippines followed by assignments at Yokota, Japan, Ben Guerrir, Morocco, Hahn, Ramstein, and Sembach, Germany, Adana, Turkey and Crete, Greece. He remained at Iraklion, Crete, until his death and the school was later renamed the Jack R. Kearns School in his honor in recognition of his many years of service to the school and community there. He taught CCD classes in Crete and was president of the church council. He also served as a deacon of the Air Force Chapel on the Iraklion Air Station.

Jack came from a large family of two brothers and four sisters, all surviving him, along with his parents and several nieces and nephews. He usually returned to Fort Dodge each summer to visit his family. He enjoyed traveling extensively and immersed himself in the culture of Crete, learning to folk dance and speak Greek, and making many good friends.

Submitted by Michael J. Harris