- Date Of Birth: January 20, 1932
- Date Of Death: August 20, 2019
- State: Illinois
Jack Wilbur Soper, 87, of Galesburg, died on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 6:06 PM, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg. Jack was born on January 20, 1932, in Knoxville. He was the son of Scott and Alma (Johnson) Soper.
Jack married Annabelle Harris Danforth on September 15, 1962. Together they celebrated 48 years of marriage. Annabelle preceded him in death on December 24, 2010.
Jack is survived by his children, Peter (Uli) Leiner of Zweibrueken, Germany and Jackie (Dan) Watson of Canton; a sister, Diana (Paul) Leback of Ilwaco, Washington; three grandchildren, Wendy (Todd) Newburgh, Ryan (Kara) Watson, Stephanie (Austin) Arnold; seven great-grandchildren, A.J, Brooke (Aaron Stevens) and Brenden McCoy, Ryleigh and Keighley Watson, Kyla and Luca Arnold, and numerous nieces and nephews that he loved very much. Along with his wife, Jack was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Bob and Mike Danforth; a daughter, Susan Anderson-Danforth; sisters, Colleen Soper Hasley and Norma Soper Nelson Stoner; and grandson, Nathan Watson.
Jack grew up in Knoxville and was a 1950 graduate of Corpus Christi High School.
Jack was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving overseas in Tokyo, Germany and the Korean War. Jack received his A.A.S degree from Carl Sandburg College in 1981. He was a Quality Control Supervisor at Gates Rubber Co., retiring in 1995.
Jack was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He was active in the choir and a Cantor. He was also a member of the Galesburg Community Chorus. He was an avid golfer. Jack was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Illini and Notre Dame.
