Jack Corey

Jack Corey, 70, died July 18, 2014, with his family and friends by his side at the St. Elias Hospital in Anchorage. At his request, a celebration of life is at 4 p.m., Aug. 2, at the Palmer Elk’s Lodge.

He was born and raised in Chickaloon. A retired Local 302 Heavy Equipment Operator, he worked a lot of Alaska road jobs. Jack attended a school in Texas to learn body and fender work to open his own shop. He also was a hunting guide for a short time, working for Marlin Grasser when he was a young man. He did everything with passion. He loved playing his guitar, singing and writing songs, oil painting, body and fender work to running heavy equipment. He loved being around people. He was a man that would laugh at himself and would make you laugh right along with him. He loved his brothers and sisters.

His brother Dan, says, “He could do anything, he was a good brother.” His sister Eydie says, “I was more of a mother to him. There was not a day that went by without hearing from Jack.” All that were close to him will miss his laugh, his singing, his sense of humor, the way he called his loved ones by “pet names” like the one he called to his sister — “shrew.” He was proud of all his kids, how each of them have great jobs and are hard workers. He was one of a kind.

Jack is survived by his six children, 27 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren as follows: Amber (and Craig) Henry, and their children, Miranda (and Travis) Clark, Brooke-Lyn and Coryl Henry and great-grandson Everett James Clark (who shared his birthday); Jack Dean (and Amber) Corey, and their children, Devin, Nathanael, Jancee, and Andrea; Patrick (and Beth) Corey, and their children, Dalton, Daniel, Payton and Brendan Corey; John (and Ronda) Corey, their children, Rabekka and Timothy Corey, and great- grandson Oliver Corey; Chelina (and Dave) Aherns, and their children, Jacob, StaVanna, Autumn, Precious, Genevieve, Madison, Alaina, Jimmy, Esther, and Noble and Ingrid (and Shane) Ling, and their children, Philip, Dylan, Emily, and Logan Ling. Also survived by five siblings: Daniel (and Jackie) Corey and their children, Lauri and Terri, Edith (and Robert) Baller and their children, Bill and Debbie, Franky Corey, Kathy (and Curt) Anderson and their daughter Heather, and Dorothy (and Joe Windmiller) Topolic and her children, Edward and Pete. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Olga Corey, brother Herb Belanger, sisters Elsie Story and Mae Crossman, nephew Bill Bentti and grandson Derick Corey.