Jack was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 1930, while his father, Bennie; an army crew chief for airplane maintenance & repair, was stationed at Scott Air Field. Later, they were transferred to the Philippines. His dad built him a wooden airplane large enough for him to sit in and roll on its wheels. Thus began his life-long love of flying and fascination with anything airborne.
It was while in the Islands he also learned to ride horses, play polo, swim and go boating in the ocean. When they returned to the states by ship, it was by way of Guam and the Hawaiian Islands. In this way Jack was well traveled by the age of 10.
Still only 10 years old and back in the states on furlough before their next assignment, Jack lost his mother, Laura, to an illness. It was a tragic loss and one from which he never fully recovered. Bennie’s next assignment was at Langley Field, Virginia. He bought Jack his very own sailboat. Jack quickly learned to sail and whiled away many hours in this manner, finding comfort for his painful loss in the gentle, rocking waves of the Chesapeake Bay. Boating thus became a pleasure from which he took comfort the rest of his life.
Jack’s father was sent to the Pacific Theater shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served there during World War II. During those years Jack lived with his Aunt Polly in New York City. Sadly, he lost his father as well, shortly after the end of the War. At that time he returned to Springfield to live with his grandmother Van Matre, and attended Central High School.
Always proud of being an “Army Brat” and having inherited a strong sense of patriotism and duty to country from his father, Jack left high school just before graduation, when the Korean Conflict was threatening, to join the Air Force. He then completed his education and went on to meteorology schools, serving in the 6th Air Weather Squadron. While in the Air Force Jack served in Texas, Oklahoma, where he flew “Tornado Alley”, compiling valuable information and forming the basis for predicting tornadoes later. He also spent time in Nevada where he was involved in the early hydrogen bomb tests. He did weather reconnaissance in Alaska, Barrow Island and Pthule, Greenland. He attended language and subversive mission schools and was given a top security clearance. While serving in Racife, Brazil, he helped train the nation’s men for the Brazilian Air Force.
He married Jean before leaving the Air Force and began raising a family. They had four children; Laura, Jack Katrina and Michael. Following his service in the Air Force he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission several years before finally returning to Springfield, where he opened his own business. After 8 years he sold the business and went into sales to have more time to spend with his family.
His children have always been an important part of his life, and he was thrilled when grandchildren began to arrive. Especially since he had the brightest, best looking and most talented ones in the world!
He inherited a second family, John and Chris, and eventually more beautiful grandchildren after marrying Sharon in 1984.
After retirement he discovered new talents in gardening, fishing and working with high school students through the American Legion and the 40 & 8 Veterans Group. He was honored to be part of a group chosen to go to Jefferson City and petition Governor Carnahan to sign the order to build the newest Veteran’s Cemetery close to Springfield, Missouri rather than elsewhere in the state.
During his illness Jack rediscovered his love and need for God in his life. Renewing that relationship gave him joy and he was at peace in spite of his suffering, knowing he was in the Lord’s hands. However, his death on October 26, 2001, following a long and painful battle with cancer, came much too soon for those of his grieving family left behind. He will be missed.
Funeral services for Jack Benton Van Matre were held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 30, 2001 in Day Funeral Home with Reverend Durwin Kicker and Reverend Curtis Richardson officiating. Burial was at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, October 31, 2001 by the Veterans Memorial Team, Springfield. Visitation was Monday evening from 7-8 PM in the funeral home.
Jack's
Favorite Poem:
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the sides on
laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds ----
and done a hundred things.
You have not dreamed of ---- wheeled and soared and swing high in the sunlit
silence.
Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft
through footless halls of air.
Up, up, and long delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the windswept heights
with easy grace.
Where never lark or even eagle flew----
And
while with silent, listing mind I’ve trod the high un-trespassed sanctity of
space, and ----
Put out my hand and
touched the face of God.