Teunis John "Jack" Paarlberg

St. Augustine - Teunis John "Jack" Paarlberg, age 96, of Hampton, New Hampshire, and St. Augustine Beach, Florida, passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2025 in St. Augustine, Florida. Jack was born July 10th, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, son of Teunis N Paarlberg and Thelma Gertrude Peters. He grew up in Harvey, Illinois, with sisters Barbara and Jean, and graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.

Jack graduated from Iowa State University in 1951. He married Isabel Ellen Veazey in June of 1953. Their life together started with a tour in the U.S. Navy. Their oldest son, William Teunis, was born while Jack was on duty somewhere in the Pacific, on the USS Tarawa aircraft carrier. Jack was a weatherman on board, as well as the ship's ping pong champion. Subsequently, Jennifer Ellen was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. Upon completion of Jack's tour, the family settled in Wheaton, Illinois. Shortly thereafter Jaan ("Kate") Katherine and twin brother John Christopher were born in Geneva, Illinois. The family moved to Hampton, New Hampshire in 1962, where they lived on Winnacunnet Road until 2016. His youngest son, Nicholas Dee, was born in 1966 in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Jack went on to earn Master's degrees at Northern Illinois University and the University of New Hampshire. Jack taught five years at the high school in Elmhurst-Villa Park, Illinois, and one year at the high school in Wheaton, Illinois. After moving to Hampton, he taught mathematics at Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts. At Topsfield he also worked as Department Chair, Assistant Principal, coached the math team, announced the football games, and taught driver's education. Masconomet's annual Academic Awards Ceremony was named in his honor in 1992.

Jack was a devoted father to his five children. He led the family in many travel adventures, most notably a two-year stretch in the 1960s to live in Uganda, East Africa. Jack taught at Bishop Willis Teacher Training College in the town of Iganga. Additional travels with Isabel included a backpacking trip to Europe, and annual summer camping tours around the United States to visit their friends and very large extended family.

After Jack's retirement in 1993, Jack and Isabel spent winters at the KOA campground in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. In 2016 they moved permanently to St Augustine. Jack loved golf, bowling, bridge, horseshoes, books, bicycle riding, and root beer floats. He loved living near the ocean, whether it was in New Hampshire or Florida.

Jack loved swing and classic big band music. From college until well into retirement, Jack was a drummer in various bands. He worked his way through college in a swing band. Later on he played in marching bands, church bands, community orchestras, and a retired men's band.

Jack was sustained throughout his life by his love for his wife, Isabel. They were both active members of the St. Augustine Allegro Senior Living community for many years, and they had many cherished friends there. He watched over her devotedly during her final months in the fall of 2023.

Jack is predeceased by his wife Isabel Ellen (Veazey), and sister Barbara Meurisse. He is survived by his sister Jean Badger (Bob), and five children: William (Nancy), Jennifer (Ed), John (Laurie), Kate (Jim), and Nicholas (Liza); eight grandchildren: Sage, Jacob, Hannah, Sarah, Kelli, Zoe, Ruby, and Clementine; and nine great-grandchildren: Ellen, Isen, Mollyann, Kade, Cameron, Sophia, Dean, Chase, Liam, and Levi.

A memorial service for both Isabel and Jack will be held at Jacksonville National Cemetery on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 1:30pm.