John R. Jax

John Rodney Jax, age 81, of Winter Park, Florida passed away on Monday October 6th, 2025.

He is preceded in death by his wife Virginia (Ginger) Elizabeth Jax, and parents John Robert Jax and Pearl Loretta Hansen Jax. He is survived by son, Steve J. (Sarah) Jax, daughter, Jennifer P. (David) Reed, grandchildren, Alexandria N. (Cameron) Zook, Victoria A. (Gino) Colberg, Colin D. Reed, Miranda E. Reed, John E. Jax, and Maggie E. Jax, great-grandchildren, Riley N. Zook, Luca R. Colberg, Rowyn B. Colberg, Beckett R. Colberg and Ryker H. Zook. 

After graduating High School in Mauston, WI, he enlisted in the Navy and graduated from boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. While John was stationed at Mayport Naval Base he met Ginger in Jacksonville, FL. They later married in Jacksonville in 1967, then moved to Wisconsin followed by South Carolina. After graduating from University of South Carolina, he accepted an engineering role with Honeywell and moved the family into their forever home in Winter Park. After initially retiring in 2001, he accepted a position at Siemens where he continued to work until he fully retired in 2009.While raising his family, he always preferred to be on a lake or river or at the beach. There were few weekends where he was not boating or skiing with family. He never missed an opportunity to attend an event where family was participating; from football games to performances to competitions to parades and all athletic events. He loved travelling and ensured that his kids got to visit nearly every state before graduating High School. One summer he combined 2 years of vacation and took the family on a 5-week motorhome trip leaving from Florida, following the southern border through Texas and into California. From there travelling up the West Coast into British Columbia and then across the northern border with a stop in Wisconsin before returning home to Florida. Subsequent trips included touring the East Coast all the way to Maine plus the Eastern and Maritime Provinces. Family was always the most important thing to John . He loved the holidays, and it was important for the family to always be together. He enjoyed hosting a huge meal on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter for everyone to attend. John’s grandkids and great-grandkids were his world. He loved hugging and playing with them as often as he could. The past 20 years John and Ginger had a summer place in Wisconsin to escape the Florida heat at the lake. While in Wisconsin he enjoyed visiting with his brother and sister’s and their families, boating, picnicking and drives through the countryside. Whether they were in Wisconsin or Florida, John always cherished spending time outdoors. He loved working on various projects or tending to the yard, finding satisfaction in the simple yet fulfilling tasks of maintaining his surroundings.There was always a game playing on TV, it ranged from Orlando Magic, Green Bay Packers, to college football and he could not get enough of watching his granddaughter play college softball. He was a NASCAR fan visiting tracks around the country including Homestead, Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte, and others, plus attending many races at Daytona including several 500’s. 

Visitation is Sunday, October 12th, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm with funeral services on Monday October 13th at 12 noon.

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