John 'Jack' Nalley

John Patrick Nalley-'Jack' to nearly all who knew him-died at home on July 9, 2017, surrounded by family. He was 91. The longtime Spencer resident was born in Royal, Iowa, on May 2, 1926, the youngest child of Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Nalley. (Mrs. Nalley was the former Esther Ales.) In 1944, the then 17-year-old enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Jack served on the USS Washington and USS North Carolina, sister battleships that took part in nearly every major naval offensive in the Pacific. Which explains how two years of service enabled him to entertain family and friends for decades with his stories. Forrest Gump-like, Jack was present for many historic moments of World War II, including epic battles at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Luzon. On September 26, 1953, he married Shirley Kaye Anderson at St. Louis Catholic Church in Royal. The couple, wed for 63 years, met at a dance at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park. They had three children: Nancy; Pat (aka 'Walt'); and Jim. Jack worked at local dairies (Jersey Dairy, Spencer Dairy, and Wells Blue Bunny) for many years and was a familiar face to local families and businesses. When home deliveries of milk were phased out, he worked for DVM, a veterinary supply company. Naturally athletic-he was a standout in basketball in high school-he was a good golfer well into his 80s, always walking and not using a cart; many people will remember him chipping golf balls in the yard. He was also an avid reader, sometimes finishing several books a week. By any measure, Jack lived a simple but satisfying life. He treasured his wife, took pride in his family, spent time with his widowed mother, valued lifelong friendships, attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church each week (though he did like to sit near the back so he could make a jack rabbit exit), and considered an afternoon waxing his car to be time well spent. He loved animals, hot dogs, well-done hamburgers, Notre Dame football, Lucky Strikes, playing pool, Frank Sinatra, and aviator-style sunglasses. In the place of expensive vacations, there were picnics, Sunday drives, sled rides, games of catch, visits with family and friends, and occasional excursions to the Spencer airport to watch planes take off and land. (Jack was fascinated with flying from the time he was a boy. He learned to fly a Piper Cub before licenses were required.) He was one-of-a-kind, an extraordinary role model for his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Jack is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Nancy Loseke of Moreland Hills, Ohio, and her children, Matt and Samantha; son, Pat and his wife, Laurie, of Spencer, Iowa; son, Jim and his partner, Wanda Pringnitz-Hoven, of Polk City, Iowa, Jim's children, Emma and Devin Nalley, and Wanda's children, Ryley, Taylor, and Brooke Hoven; nephew, Jay Santage and his wife, April, and son, Jack; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Genevieve and her husband, Omer Bredvick; Marge and Carroll 'Jiggs' Santage and their children, Donnis and Ronald Santage; and son-in-law Lee Loseke.

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