Everett Kinsey "Jack" THOMAS

1928 - 2017

THOMAS, Everett "Jack" Kinsey Passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2017 in his 89th year in Tucson, AZ. Born February 5, 1928 in St. Paul, MN. He is preceded by his wife of 56 years, Rilla (Gail) Thomas and infant grandson, Jack Kinsey Thomas. Survived by his sister, Kinsey (Robert) Schneider; two sons, Daniel (Kim) and Lawrence (Jody) and daughter, Jill (John) Gould; grandchildren, Jamie, Jake, Nona and Rion and special friends, Lorna Reynolds, David and Joan Butcher. Memorial Service will be held Monday, April 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern Ave., Oro Valley, AZ. Jack served in the Coast Guard during WWII and later attended Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. Jack's lifetime passion for all sports was highlighted by his time playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers minor league 1948-1950. Jack and the Dodgers won the Minor League Championship in 1950. He continued his love of the game by serving as a Plate Umpire for High school and Collegiate Baseball teams in the St. Paul area. A longtime member of the St. Paul Ski Club, Jack was a US Ski Association sanctioned judge for four decades and judged Mid-western regional ski jump tournaments as well as the National Jr. Olympics. Jack was one of the fortunate few who made a career out of something he loved. His knowledge of sports and business led to a longtime career in the sporting goods industry. He was proprietor of J. Thomas Athletic until he retired. He and Gail then moved to Washburn Lake, Remer, MN where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing at the Golden Eagle Golf Club. An avid and talented golfer, Jack wintered in Tucson, AZ where he worked and golfed at The Gallery Golf Course well into his 80's. Jack affable manner cultivated many lifelong friendships, he was always ready with a warm, enthusiastic greeting and a playful tease or joke.