Jacob "Jack" Max Goehry

On Sunday, December 17, 2017, Jack Goehry died peacefully at the age of 100. Born in Oak Harbor, WA January 14, 1917 to Max and Hazel (Neil) Goehry. Jack’s mother passed away in March from the 1918 flu pandemic. At age three his father remarried Dee Holden and moved to Brewster, WA where they added three siblings: Bob, Stan, and Kay. One of Jack’s first jobs as a teen was building wooden apple boxes. He built 500 boxes a day for a penny a box until he graduated from Brewster High School in 1935. He then attended the University of Washington where he drove a topless 1929 Model A Ford over Highway 2. In November 1941, weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jack enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Jack was a B-24 Bomber Pilot during World War II with the 513th Squadron, 376th Bomb Group. Stationed in Benghazi, Libya, the 376th flew missions over the Mediterranean Sea to strategic targets in Southern Europe. His combat tour finished with 33 missions and 305 combat hours. Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Cluster, seven Air Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations and five Battle Stars. After returning from combat in 1943, Major Jack Goehry was assigned as a B-24 Flight Instructor where he met and married Betti Lou Schram. He returned to Brewster, WA where he worked as a car salesman for the family business. During the floods of 1948, he flew a 2 seater Cessna into the Methow Valley landing wherever possible to deliver supplies and transport the injured. During the Korean War, Jack was called back into service and was stationed in Bermuda as a hurricane hunter for the U.S. Air Force. Jack married Elinor (Peg) Clinton, the love of his life, in 1957. In 1965, Jack and Peg moved from Brewster into their newly built home on Lake Chelan where Jack enjoyed riding his snowmobiles on the beach, spending time with family and friends on the porch and growing the best tomatoes known to mankind. Employment history after military service included diverse job experiences in Brewster and Chelan as a Car Salesman for Goehry’s Incorporated, Apple Buyer for North Country Fruit, Ground Crew for Cascade Helicopter, Co-Owner Chelan Concrete, and Owner of Rapid Rental Storage. Jack married Rebecca Creighton in 1994. He enjoyed gardening, reading, skiing, swimming, flying, snowmobiling, and cocktails at five. Civic duties were a large part of his life, including seventy-three-year American Legion member, over 45 year Lions Club member, and many years as the Lake Chelan Sewer Commissioner. Jack is survived by his children: Max Goehry, Patty Hughes Schmauder, Kim (Steve) Olsen, Clint (Maria) Goehry, 6 Grandchildren, 4 Great Grandchildren and sister Kay Welborn. Jack was preceded in death by his brothers Bob and Stan, wives Elinor (Peg) Clinton and Rebecca Creighton.

Tributes

Jacob "Jack" Max Goehry

January 14, 1917 - December 17, 2017