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Jack B. Engle

1954 - 2021

Jack B. Engle obituary, 1954-2021, Santa Cruz, CA

BORN

1954

DIED

2021

Jack Engle Obituary

Jack B. Engle
September 30, 1954 - November 21, 2020
Santa Cruz, CA & Kona, HI
On November 21, 2020, Jack B. Engle, loving husband, and father passed away at age 66, after a difficult eight month battle with cancer. Jack was born in Oceanside and was raised by his parents Dale and Mary Engle, both veterans of the U.S. Army with Jack's older sister Jill in Santa Rosa, California. (Yes, they were Jack & Jill!)
Jack grew up longing to be near the ocean, and as a young man began a lifelong love affair with the Pacific. He and his many landlocked surf pals were known for skipping school, and would make the hour-long drive to the coast to spend the afternoons chasing waves, much to his teachers chagrin. Donning the new nickname "Butch" (Butchie, Boochay), and after graduating high school (self proclaimed by the "skin of his teeth"), Jack moved down to Santa Cruz, and spent most of his twenties between cheap rooms in Seabright, and his van, or whatever he could do to insure never missing a good swell up at Scott's Creek or at the harbor mouth.
During his adult life, Jack became a talented woodworker, and worked as a skilled carpenter as his day trade. When Jack was 35, his son, Justin Michael, was born. Until Jack took his last breath, Justin remained the absolute apple of his eye, and he cherished every moment spent with his son.
When Jack was 42, he met the love of his life, Jan, and her teenage daughter, Tracy. The four unlikelies became a family, setting up their home in the Live Oak. Jack was the hub of entertainment on Foster Court, where he showed off his hosting talents with driveway BBQ's for anyone who happened to stop by.
For many years, Jack dreamt of life on the Big Island, and in 2018, he and Jan sold the family home and moved to Kona, Hawaii. He spent the 18 months before his cancer diagnosis, swimming in the turquoise water at Magic Sands, riding his Harley Fat Boy (license plate: SKNNRD), and enjoying his group of new friends at Rivvis saltwater pool every night for the sunset and cocktails. Jack was a lucky man, and got to live his lifelong dream.
His family, and friends will love and remember him as a sweet, sensitive, happy man. He is preceded in death by his parents Dale and Mary, and his sister, Jill.


View the online memorial for Jack B. Engle

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Feb. 21, 2021.

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