Louis William "Jack" Corell

1919 - 2008

Louis William "Jack" Corell did not survive complications from an otherwise successful surgery. He died January 9, 2008, almost 89 years from the day he was born in the Corell homestead in Lockeford, CA.
Jack attended Bruella Elementary School and was a 1938 Lodi High School graduate. He played on championship basketball teams in high school and at Modesto Junior College where they were state champions after beating Pasadena City College. Jack guarded, and held Pasadena "super star" Jackie Robinson to his fewest points scored that season. Jack is a member of the Lodi Sports Hall of Fame.
Jack attended University of Southern California where he met his future wife, Janet Cunningham Corell, in the college bookstore. Jack established the Theta Chi fraternity and was its first president.
After graduating in 1942, Jack and Jan were married in 1943 in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Jack was stationed with the US Navy. As a naval aviator, Jack was one of few pilots to receive the rare and coveted "green card" (some of you pilots will know what that means). He was a championship boxer in the Navy, and after the war, Jack flew as a civilian for Pacific Airlines before eventually coming home to Lodi.
Jack bought an almond orchard on Orchard and Bruella Road in the Victor area, which he farmed until the mid 1980s. Jack and Jan then moved into Lodi where Jack continued managing the almond orchard he planted in 1961 for General Mills to the present.
Jack was very involved in the Lodi community and belonged to numerous civic organizations.
He was a long time member of the Rotary Club, SIRS, Odd Fellows, and Masons. Jack was also a trustee on the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District, and was a past member of the Woodbridge Golf and Country Club.
Jack is survived by his wife, Janet Corell; his son, William "Bill" Corell and his wife, Christine of Lodi; his daughter, Melinda Meitz and her husband, Fred of Sausalito; and his sister, Dolly Merrill of Salem, OR; his granddaughters: Clarice Corell and her husband, Jake Barlow of San Francisco, and Collette Corell and Dane Treiber of Lodi; his grandsons, Gwen Plas and Erik Meitz, and great-granddaughter, Karma Plas.
Jack is preceded in death by his sisters Helen Jane Devine, Mildred Lind, and Naomie Walters, and brother Calvin "Red" Corell.
Donahue Funeral Home has planned a private family service. The family invites those who would like to share in celebrating Jack's life to join them at the Lodi Woman's Club, 325 West Pine Street, at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15th.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jack's name to the Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation or Lodi Animal Friends Connection.