Smilin’ Jack Nehring, loving husband and great friend to many, father of three, grandfather of three and great-grandfather of four with one on the way, teacher, coach, master fisherman, carpenter and Jack-of-all-trades who helped so many others in so many ways, passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at age 81.
The morning of July 3, 1937, logger Ralph Nehring and Oreta Long Nehring welcomed Jack Dean to the world as their first born child in the hospital in Chehalis, Wash. Growing up on the farm in Onalaska, Wash., Jack and his siblings, Jerry and Erma fulfilled their daily barnyard chores, while managing to sneak over to the nearby South Fork of the Newaukum River, where a lifelong passion for fishing was born.
From the get-go, Jack was always a determined soul, giving his best to accomplish whatever he put his mind to, whether work on the farm, fishing or sports, where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track. The love of sports motivated him to attend Centralia Community College and recruited under scholarship to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. Both of which have honored him in their Football Halls of Fame.
In 1957, upon transferring to Pacific University, the country boy and avid fisherman landed the catch of his life, Homecoming Queen Sally Nehring, a big city girl from Seattle, one year his senior. Catching a window when both were the same age, the two were married Aug. 16, 1958, both age 21.
The young couple moved to Mapleton, Ore., where Jack began teaching science and social studies and coaching football, later rising to the role of School Principal. Early mornings were often spent with a couple of hours fishing on the Siuslaw River before the school day would begin.
In January of 1962, the firstborn David appeared, followed by Robert 21 months later and Bradley in 1965. The local newspaper quipped, “Coach Nehring is spending time with the Nehring Team Manager as they lay plans to complete their offensive line.”
1968 brought a big transition, as the wagon train brought the family back to Centralia, Wash., just a few miles from Jack’s birthplace. Here the charismatic talker tried his hand as a realtor in what turned out to be a very tough economic situation. A year later, Jack joined Chehalis School District at the Greenhill Boys Correctional Facility, teaching and launching a newly created Work Studies program to help students re-adjust to life in the community while learning important skills along the way, and was later extended to include W. F. West High School. This was ideal for a man who connected with so many people so easily.
Kids were always fundamentally important to Jack, whether his own or others in the community. Seldom did he and Sally miss one of his boys’ football, cross-country, wrestling or baseball games, which then extended to his grandchildren as they began participating in sports. This led one granddaughter to write, “Thank you for coming to all my matches! If it had been me, I would have just said, forget this!!” Jack and Sally, along with Robert and Beverly Graham, were honored at W. F. West High School and awarded “Bearcat Supporters of the Year” in 1998.
Always with a creative mind, seeking new ideas, Jack was an entrepreneur, usually getting his entire family involved, from collecting pine cones to peeling cascara bark to cutting firewood, the Elma movie theatre, team pictures on buttons, and iconically the bait business, turning his passion into profits - at first getting Sal, the Boys, friends and even his own mother out in a light rain to catch all the night-crawlers that they were to sell. As the business grew and retirement approached, Jack and Sally provided fishing tackle to many local lake and river stores throughout western Washington. The duo were busier than ever.
Always lending a hand to help others, without even waiting to be asked, Jack became a pillar of the community, at his church on maintenance and grounds, on various church committees, long hours at the local food bank, and one of the leading members of Work Opportunities of Lewis County which helps the handicapped do valuable and creative work and building self-esteem.
In recent years, as he continued his good work, he increasingly spent more free time with Sally, as they traveled up and down I-5 and Highway 101, to granddaughter’s soccer games and days at the coast, with winters spent in Palm Springs, where he found a new community which was quickly inspired by his charisma and charm.
Jack is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sally; as well as sons, David, Robert and Bradley; grandchildren, Michael, Micheala and Sarah; great-grandchildren, Parker, Kaydence, Jameson and Kace; as well as his best buddy of 15 years, Pepper the cat.
Westminster Presbyterian Church will host a memorial service for Jack Sunday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m. Everybody is welcome to attend. Friends, family and well-wishers are encouraged to donate in Jack’s name to Work Opportunities of Lewis County or the church, or to just take a kid fishing.
