Jack L. Chandler
March 15th, 1931 - January 1st, 2023
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Jack's Obituary
Jack L. Chandler, 91, of St. Joseph, met his Savior face to face on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at his home in St. Joseph.
The family will receive guests from 10am until time of celebration of life service at 11am, Friday, January 6, 2023 at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor. Committal with military rites to follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship International, www.cefonline.com, or the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 143, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Those wishing to leave an online condolence for the family may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Jack was born March 15, 1931 in Somerville, TN to B.F. and Alice (McQueen) Chandler. He was a graduate of Dowagiac High School, class of 1949. After high school, he worked at Nuechterlein Studio in St. Joseph. While working there as a photographer helper, he met and married Beverly Godfrey on November 24, 1951 in Benton Harbor before joining the United States Marine Corps in December of 1951. Jack proudly served his country during the Korean war. Upon his return, he worked at Auto Specialties Corporation in St. Joseph as a timekeeper, having taken classes at Benton Harbor Junior College before employment with DeeColor Laboratories as a photo finisher where he was vice president. After digital photography reduced the need for film services, he worked for Lindahl Specialties in Elkhart, IN where he continued to help other photographers improve their craft.
After his retirement, his love of photography often found him taking pictures of reunions, our scenic pier, his family, and submissions for the Herald Palladium. Jack was a faith-driven man with a servant’s heart and a passion for evangelizing children. He was very active at Napier Parkview Baptist Church as the Director of Christian Education, teaching Sunday School, Junior Church, and working on Wednesday nights with generations of children for over fifty years. . He also held many leadership roles in Child Evangelism Fellowship program for many years, where served at the local, state, and international levels.
Jack was a follower of Jesus Christ, which allowed him to lead in other aspects of life. He cared for people with integrity and respect. Jack was a guardian for three developmentally disabled community members, when they had no other family to rely on. He was a member of the Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, joining the club in 1978 and receiving many awards over the years, including the Paul Harris Fellow award, contributed often to the Rotary Foundation and served with his photography skills. Jack had been battling Alzheimer’s dementia for the last 10 years. As his memories faded, he often took solace in knowing that he had captured so many memories for those around him with his photography; memories that will never fade.
While in the USMC, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two stars, and the United Nations Service Medal. Recently, he was awarded the “Ambassador for Peace Medal” by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Those in addition to the Paul Harris Fellow award from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Jack will be missed by his sons, Gregg Chandler, and John (Lila) Chandler; his grandchildren, Joel and Danielle Chandler; and his brother, Ed (Diane) Chandler.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Chandler; his son, Phillip Chandler; his brothers, Floyd and Bob Chandler; and his parents.
To view Jack's funeral service, please use this link to the recording from church: www.napierchurch.org/service-stream
The family will receive guests from 10am until time of celebration of life service at 11am, Friday, January 6, 2023 at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor. Committal with military rites to follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship International, www.cefonline.com, or the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 143, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Those wishing to leave an online condolence for the family may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Jack was born March 15, 1931 in Somerville, TN to B.F. and Alice (McQueen) Chandler. He was a graduate of Dowagiac High School, class of 1949. After high school, he worked at Nuechterlein Studio in St. Joseph. While working there as a photographer helper, he met and married Beverly Godfrey on November 24, 1951 in Benton Harbor before joining the United States Marine Corps in December of 1951. Jack proudly served his country during the Korean war. Upon his return, he worked at Auto Specialties Corporation in St. Joseph as a timekeeper, having taken classes at Benton Harbor Junior College before employment with DeeColor Laboratories as a photo finisher where he was vice president. After digital photography reduced the need for film services, he worked for Lindahl Specialties in Elkhart, IN where he continued to help other photographers improve their craft.
After his retirement, his love of photography often found him taking pictures of reunions, our scenic pier, his family, and submissions for the Herald Palladium. Jack was a faith-driven man with a servant’s heart and a passion for evangelizing children. He was very active at Napier Parkview Baptist Church as the Director of Christian Education, teaching Sunday School, Junior Church, and working on Wednesday nights with generations of children for over fifty years. . He also held many leadership roles in Child Evangelism Fellowship program for many years, where served at the local, state, and international levels.
Jack was a follower of Jesus Christ, which allowed him to lead in other aspects of life. He cared for people with integrity and respect. Jack was a guardian for three developmentally disabled community members, when they had no other family to rely on. He was a member of the Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, joining the club in 1978 and receiving many awards over the years, including the Paul Harris Fellow award, contributed often to the Rotary Foundation and served with his photography skills. Jack had been battling Alzheimer’s dementia for the last 10 years. As his memories faded, he often took solace in knowing that he had captured so many memories for those around him with his photography; memories that will never fade.
While in the USMC, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two stars, and the United Nations Service Medal. Recently, he was awarded the “Ambassador for Peace Medal” by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Those in addition to the Paul Harris Fellow award from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Jack will be missed by his sons, Gregg Chandler, and John (Lila) Chandler; his grandchildren, Joel and Danielle Chandler; and his brother, Ed (Diane) Chandler.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Chandler; his son, Phillip Chandler; his brothers, Floyd and Bob Chandler; and his parents.
To view Jack's funeral service, please use this link to the recording from church: www.napierchurch.org/service-stream
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