John Anthony 'Jack' Stark

KALISPELL — John Anthony "Jack" Stark, 89, a Lakeside resident, died of natural causes Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell. He was born Sept. 16, 1917, in Wheaton, Ill., to Eugene and Rose Stark.

At age 14, after his father's death, he moved to California with his mother and sister. Two years later, he left high school and worked two jobs to help support the family.

During these early years of his life, Jack developed a real love for the Pacific Ocean and especially the Santa Monica beach where he was a lifeguard. Jack and his sister were both outstanding swimmers and his powerful swimming netted him the 200 meter Breast Stroke Championship in the South Pacific AAU.

Jack also won several other swimming awards including the Far Western AAU Open Breast Stroke Championship and second place finish in the breast stroke at the national AAU meet in 1937.

During a period when Jack worked as a private swimming instructor, one of his pupils was a young Jane Fonda.

After he left the Southwest Military Academy, Jack began duty as a patrolman in Avalon on Catalina Island. There he gained a lot of valuable experience and developed a strong desire to perhaps someday pursue a career as a criminologist.

It was at this time that he met and became close friends with singer Perry Como.

Following the job at Catalina Island, he moved to MGM Studios as a claims inspector and this position gave him many valuable contacts, which eventually helped land a job with the U.S. Border Patrol.

During WWII, Jack served four years with the U.S. Army. When the war ended, Jack received an honorable discharge but re-enlisted, was commissioned, and served as an intelligence officer transporting secret documents between Washington D.C. and occupied Germany.

Following the war, he returned to California where he enjoyed a long and successful career in sales with the original Coldwell Banker Company, primarily in residential income with the mid-Wilshire and San Fernando Valley offices.

During what Jack would frequently call the "autumn" of his life, he developed a love for Flathead Lake, where he happily spent the summers of his retirement years.

Due to health problems in the fall of 2004, Jack was no longer able to journey south for the winter and thus became a full time Montanan.

Jack is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Dugan, of Port Orchard, Wash., nephew George Heath and a great-nephew Rahim Wilson. He also leaves behind his extended family of friends, from many walks of life.

Memorial services for Jack Stark were held Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel. A memorial has been established at Brendan House in Kalispell in Jack's name.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Jack's family.