John Raymond Lynn

John Raymond Lynn, better known as Jack or JR, age 66 of Winters, California and Prescott, Arizona passed over the rainbow bridge (as we say in the Dog world) to be with his canine and human family and friends who preceded him on July 25, 2022 after a brave fight with the terrible disease of ALS.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Linda, his sister, Joyce Zink of San Carlos, California, his brother, Tom Lynn of Santa Rosa, California, his nieces and nephews, and of course, his faithful, four-legged confidants, Cindi Lou and Fenmore (who crossed the rainbow bridge to join him in May 2023). He is preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and Homer Lynn of South San Francisco, and many other deeply loved family, friends, and dogs.

Jack was born on May 16, 1956. He came into the world long, skinny and hungry, as his siblings say. He was easy going, curious, and smart. As a boy, his voracious appetite never ceased, often causing his family to choose "family style" restaurants when dining out so he'd get enough to eat. In adulthood, this love turned him into an unmatched master of the grill, smoking and grilling any meat available and even making pies!

He was a Jack of many trades, some might say all. He was athletic, extremely competitive, and a bit of a daredevil. He loved to win games at all costs. Always in motion, he spent his formative years playing football, competing as a pole vaulter on the track team, playing cards (especially cribbage and hearts), riding any motorized (or non-motorized vehicle) he could get his hands on from dirt bikes to regular bikes, snow skiing, water skiing, even scuba diving. His energy never ceased, even through adulthood. Jack had an incredible imagination, which deepened with his love of reading science fiction and nature books. He was curious and interested. He enjoyed studying up on topics that sparked his interest, just for the sake of learning something new (like the self-taught grill skills mentioned above!).

Jack was an avid sports fan; he always rooted for the San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He'd tell the story of the earthquake of 89' during the World Series, loved to razz his East Coast family for their loyalty to the Patriots, and even got to see one last Warriors championship before he passed.

His can-do attitude and natural born work ethic landed him quite a variety of jobs while growing up. From paper routes to car washes. After graduating from El Camino High School, he moved onto Junior College and became a Journeyman Carpenter. In his decades-long career as a carpenter, Jack worked on some of the most well-known structures in San Francisco. A lifelong union worker, Jack was a member of the local 22 union for 33 years. In such time, he helped to build the Benica Bridge, San Francisco International Airport Terminal, and the Museum of Modern Art San Francisco.

When not building the famous landmarks mentioned above, Jack was dedicated to another area of his life that he rarely spoke about, his sobriety. He passed with over 30 years of continuous sobriety. Jack believed that you have to give it away to keep it, which is why he was one of the first volunteers to staff an NA crisis hotline in the Napa area in the late 1980s. He was a sponsor to those who asked and a regular meeting goer. In his later years of sobriety, he enjoyed finding new meetings with his niece when she came to visit.

Outside of work, Jack enjoyed staying active and being outside. His father introduced him to the great outdoors, to camping and hunting; a flame that only grew as he got older. He was an avid golfer, long-time horseback rider, marksman, and dog trainer. He loved the outdoors, especially on his ranch in Winters. Jack was the epitome of the old saying 'a man and his toys', as he was often found working on the tractor or driving the backhoe. As a founding member of the Northern California Driving Club, he regularly volunteered his carpentry and equipment operating skills to design and build competition carriage driving courses.

To tell the story of Jack, is to tell the story of his other half, Linda. Jack met Linda, his best friend and the love of his life, at a small country bar in Woodside, CA in 1980. The rest, as they say, is history. They were married in both Rhode Island and California in September of 1984. Linda came with her big, rowdy, East Coast Italian family in tow and Jack dove head first into loving them just as much as he loved her. He was a partner-in-crime to his father-in-law, a trusted brother to his new sisters, a cherished godfather to his niece, and, of course, a golf partner to his brother-in-law.

They would spend the next 40 years building the lives they always dreamed of. A life with many four-legged friends, acres of land to explore, and a seemingly infinite slate of adventures - from ones in their backyard to traveling to other states and countries. After years spent on the outskirts of Napa, they ultimately settled in Winters, CA. Jack found friends in local farmers there, often meeting weekly for lunch at the Putah Creek Cafe.

It was together in Winters that Jack and Linda founded 3R Rescue, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates dogs, in 2012. Born out of their years of community service and local philanthropy, 3R Rescue was created as a refuge for dogs of all kinds. The rescue provided them the facilities for rehabilitation and the gift of time to heal as quickly or as slowly as they needed. Jack's love of animals and unspoken commitment to those in need rescued countless dogs from a terrible fate. But more than that, Jack and Linda were extremely grateful for the new circle of friends that came from their donors, volunteers, and of course adopters.

Jack's final wish was that 3R keep saving dogs. Donations can be made to 3Rrescue. He will be forever missed!