John Raymond "Jack" Weinhart

John ""Jack"" Raymond Weinhart, 82, of Escondido, CA, passed away on Friday, September 1st, 2023, his son Andrew by his side, after a long and courageous fight with Parkinson's disease (diagnosed 2004).
Jack was born February 11, 1941, in Avon, SD, to Raymond and Ruth (Metcalf) Weinhart. Jack was an only child and spent his early years in the small town of Avon attending elementary school and enjoying the company of his cousins before moving with his parents to Mitchell, SD where he continued his education in the town's public schools, graduating from Mitchell High School in 1959.
Jack was accepted to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln on a Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and pursued a degree in Business Administration (class of '63). Upon graduating, Jack was a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant officer in the Marines moving east to complete basic training courses before receiving his orders in October of '65 to go to Vietnam where he would serve as an Air Defense Control Officer supporting counter-insurgency operations with his Unit over a three-month period. Upon completion, Jack was relocated to the Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego and subsequently at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton where he would finish out the remainder of his active service in 1967, transferring to the Reserves till honorably discharged at the rank of Captain in June of 1969.
During his time in San Diego, Jack took up residence at a shared apartment in Mission Beach with a rambunctious group of friends dubbed the Rat Pack. There, he caught his first glimpse of his upstairs neighbor, Sally Stinchfield, walking out to her car on the way to work early one morning in her nursing uniform. Jack left a note on her car the following day introducing himself and asking her out to dinner. She obliged, and they dated over the course of several years, before being wed on August 7, 1969, at the Presbyterian Chapel in La Jolla.
Jack and Sally departed Mission Beach in 1972, moving to Escondido and purchasing a home in hopes of one day raising their family there. Jack worked for Spectral Dynamics in sales and marketing for a decade leading up to the adoption of their eldest son, Brian, in '79 and birth of their second son, Andrew in '80. Shortly after leaving Spectral, Jack tried his hand building spec homes with a partner and subsequently, restaurant ownership; before heading back to school to obtain his real estate license and work as an agent for ERA Property Movers (Escondido) over the course of two decades starting in the early 90's.
After retirement, Jack was elated to finally become a grandpa with the birth of his granddaughter, Sasha Elaine (2017), and grandson, Ari Jax (2019). Jack never missed a chance to interact with his grandchildren and steal a hug during their many visits together.
Jack was happiest when fishing and would often repeat the old adage of ""A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work."" Fishing anywhere was good, but the trips to Canada, often with his parents and later his two sons were highlights and often talked about until the next trip was underway.
Jack excelled in his youth at sports, playing football, baseball, basketball, field & track all four years of high school. He remained an avid follower of college and professional teams, a fervent Cornhusker's fan, and never missed a chance to see the Padres play with family and friends.
Jack's work ethic and integrity, coupled with his good nature and unrivaled knack for ""small talk,"" made him a consummate in his profession of real estate, and garnered him many friends over his lifetime. He will be remembered for his loyalty to his wife Sally, his exuberant presence as a father in his son's lives, as a man of faith in God, and a caring friend by those he knew and loved. Jack's cherished presence will be sorely missed by many.
Jack is survived by his sons, Brian Weinhart (Salem, OR), and Andrew Weinhart (wife Maya), his two grandchildren, Sasha (6) and Ari (4) of San Marcos, CA, and his cousins, Robert Metcalf (wife Ruth), and Joyce Kurtz (husband, Jim), and their children.
Jack was predeceased by his parents, and his wife, Sally A. Weinhart who had passed just nine days prior (08/23/2023).
A service for Jack and his wife, Sally, is planned for Thursday, November 9, at 1:00 PM at the Miramar National Cemetery. A hosted reception to follow at the Rancho Bernardo Inn from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on the patio veranda. For further information please contact California Funeral Alternatives (Escondido) or visit their website https://www.cafuneralt.com.
In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a donation in Jack's memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: https://www.michaeljfox.org/tribute