Jack Waegell

Jack Eugene Waegell was born to be a rancher. As eldest son David said, "He lived and breathed our ranch. It was all he talked about. He'd put in a hard day, come home and have dinner, then the phone would ring and he'd end up talking to someone about the sheep business for an hour. Then he'd go to a Farm Bureau meeting, get home late and go right back out to check the sheep or the irrigating." Jack passed away peacefully at his family ranch on July 25, 2017 surrounded by his loving family and caregivers. He was 89. Born the youngest child to Franz Joseph Henri Waegell and Margaret Fredericka Tiessen on April 7, 1928, he began his life on the family farm near Sloughhouse. The Waegells raised turkeys, figs, sheep, pigs, and cattle. Growing up during the Great Depression, Jack and his two brothers and two sisters learned the value of money and hard work. His sister Margaret remembered, "We worked hard and never had any money. But we were very lucky. We had livestock, poultry, fruit trees and Papa's wonderful vegetable garden. We ate like kings during the Depression." Young Jack attended the one room Union Grammar School. After having to take time off from school to help on the ranch during WWII, he graduated with the class of 1946 from Elk Grove High School. He continued his education at UC Berkeley and then UC Davis, where he would earn a Bachelor's Degree in Plant Science. After college, Jack was drafted into the peacetime army and was stationed in Germany. He recalled his superiors telling him "If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, pick it up. If you can't pick it up, paint it." Jack joked that his only brush with combat came on the troop ship home. "They put me in the kitchen, where I was supposed to cut up liverwurst. I'd slice a piece for the boys, then I'd slice a piece for myself. I got so sick I ended up in the hospital." Upon returning to the ranch, Jack met the love of his life, Mary Grimm, on a blind date in Elk Grove Park arranged by his good high school friend, Al, and his wife. They married on Dec. 2, 1956 and began their life together on the ranch. Jack put in long hours in the fields, while Mary raised orphaned lambs and helped with the bookkeeping. They would have 3 children; David, John (Jack) and Margaret. In 1960, Jack had an idea. With help from the Soil Conservation Service, he oversaw the leveling of several hundred acres of range land, turning them into fields that would produce clover seed, wheat, sudangrass, corn, and hay. "No one wanted to do it," he recalled, "but I wouldn't take no for an answer." Jack, in partnership with his brothers, Jim and George, continued to expand the ranch in the 1960's. Wells were drilled, irrigation pipelines were laid, water reservoirs were built, and the ranch's sheep numbers increased to around 5,000 ewes and lambs. In 1961, Jack received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award for Sacramento County. A lifelong liberal democrat, Jack loved to discuss politics. He was always respectful, and counted many conservative republicans among his dearest friends. He loved jokes, and had an affinity for famous quotations. One of his favorites was from Will Rogers, who said "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' while you look for a rock." Jack was active in the American Soil Conservation Service, The Sacramento County Farm Bureau, Florin Resource Conservation District, and served as president of the California Wool Growers from 1982 to 1984. In 1997 he was named Sheepman of the Year. He was also involved in 4-H, and for many years provided sheep and lambs to the California State Fair for wool-trimming and sheep dog trial exhibits. He had recently received his 50-year pin from The Native Sons of the Golden West. Jack had many friends, and a knack for running into people he knew everywhere he went. Often the conversations seemed to go on for hours, as an impatient family waited in the car. He could not pass through the bar at the old Sloughhouse Inn without finding a long time friend or two to talk to, as the family waited in the restaurant wondering, "Where's Dad?" He was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary, and a brother, James. He is survived by his children and their spouses; David (Inga), John (Shirley), and Margaret (Dave), and treasured grandchildren William, Sam, Peter, Devon, Lauren, and Gretchen. Also surviving him are brother George, sisters Margaret and Grace, and many beloved nieces and nephews. A celebration of Jack's life will be held Saturday, August 26, 1:00-4:00, at his home. Call Margaret at 916-502-4058 for information or directions.