We played on the Highland's basketball team that won our league championship in 1960, crusin in our cars during high school, and good times during our college years all leading to great memories today. I never imagined I would be one of those eulogizing you at your memorial service, but I considered it a priviledge to have known you.
Jack and I played together many times in our early grade school years. Young as we were, I called him "Jacky". In that era kids were largely unsupervised. With vacant lots everywhere and fenceless back yards we set up our own games--trespassing without knowing what it meant. I recall playing in a half built home (impossible today) when Jacky jumped out of a second floor window opening. Afraid that he would be hurt, I rushed over to find him a few feet down on a tall pile of dirt. One of Jacky's neighbors had grape vines; we helped ourselves. Jacky very much enjoyed going with my dad and I to the Des Plains river where we launched paper boats and followed them down stream as targets for our sling shots. Jacky had a bull whip---the good kind with a wooden handle; it created a terrific snap! He and I both had "Big Bang" cannons. {Readily available calcium carbide generated acetylene gas; the breach was essentially a cigarette lighter to spark the gas.} Sling shots, bull whips, exploding gas cannons; it was a different time.
Highlands School struggled to keep up with explosive post war population growth. Jacky and I began 4th (or 5th?) grade in a nearby church waiting for school construction to complete.
Jacky may have inherited some of his athletic prowess from his dad who was a professional football player, a kicker, who demonstrated his "drop kick" technique to us kids. His dad could not raise one arm above the shoulder from football injuries.
Jacky was quite proficient on ice skates. Outdoor skating is hit-or-miss with snow or rough ice often making it impossible. One year (were we 8th graders?) My dad, Jacky and I, were fortunate to find Saganashkee Slough with acres of glass smooth ice; it must have melted and re-frozen. As we left we knew we'd never see that much outdoor ice that smooth ever again.
Jacky was a very easy guy to like--even tempered--would listen when you talked---always met you half way---didn't blow his own horn. I am sorry he's gone.
Actually I met Jack in Mr. Eadie's European History class. Sometimes unprepared for the pop quizzes, Jack was very creative in coming up with sound-sounding answers, which left Mr. Eadie laughing out of control.
While we were buddies every afterward, we really had the time of our lives 50 years ago. In fact, 50 years ago today we were on the express train from Paris to Madrid. Jack had suggested that we both tour Europe during the summer of 1967. What a great idea, one that led me to aspiring to eventually live in Europe, where I have been since 1979.
That summer we spent that smmer on our first-ever tours of Europe, touring though all the key countries on trains - England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Bavaria, Germany, East Germany (DDR), Denmark and Holland. Those were the days - 13.5 weeks for $2,500, flights and Eurrail (trains) included. Lots of unforgetable experiences, inlcuding Jack's falling into the Trevi Fountain and nearly killing both of us as he drove down the right side of the road in England,
Great memories, often reminisced during our frequent meetings, especially in Arizona, over the following 49 years. My wife, Claudine, our sons Erik and Nico, and I miss him.
Jack Ingebritson was born in Berwyn, Illinois, to Gordon L. Ingebritson and Hazel Jeanette Ingebritson.
He graduated from high school in LaGrange, Illinois, and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University in 1969.
Jack moved to Phoenix in 1970 where he started his business career in commercial real estate. Through the years he advanced into property development, which included residential and commercial projects throughout the Phoenix area.
As an avid traveler, Jack had an insatiable appetite for learning about new places, people, and cultures from all over the world. His family charitable foundation was the focus of his gracious concern of those in need, and has helped countless charities and touched the lives of many over the years.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Joyce Flynn Ingebritson. They enjoyed residency in both Paradise Valley and Prescott, Arizona.
John D. Rauch
We played on the Highland's basketball team that won our league championship in 1960, crusin in our cars during high school, and good times during our college years all leading to great memories today. I never imagined I would be one of those eulogizing you at your memorial service, but I considered it a priviledge to have known you.
Arthur S. Buswell
Jack and I played together many times in our early grade school years. Young as we were, I called him "Jacky". In that era kids were largely unsupervised. With vacant lots everywhere and fenceless back yards we set up our own games--trespassing without knowing what it meant. I recall playing in a half built home (impossible today) when Jacky jumped out of a second floor window opening. Afraid that he would be hurt, I rushed over to find him a few feet down on a tall pile of dirt. One of Jacky's neighbors had grape vines; we helped ourselves. Jacky very much enjoyed going with my dad and I to the Des Plains river where we launched paper boats and followed them down stream as targets for our sling shots. Jacky had a bull whip---the good kind with a wooden handle; it created a terrific snap! He and I both had "Big Bang" cannons. {Readily available calcium carbide generated acetylene gas; the breach was essentially a cigarette lighter to spark the gas.} Sling shots, bull whips, exploding gas cannons; it was a different time.
Highlands School struggled to keep up with explosive post war population growth. Jacky and I began 4th (or 5th?) grade in a nearby church waiting for school construction to complete.
Jacky may have inherited some of his athletic prowess from his dad who was a professional football player, a kicker, who demonstrated his "drop kick" technique to us kids. His dad could not raise one arm above the shoulder from football injuries.
Jacky was quite proficient on ice skates. Outdoor skating is hit-or-miss with snow or rough ice often making it impossible. One year (were we 8th graders?) My dad, Jacky and I, were fortunate to find Saganashkee Slough with acres of glass smooth ice; it must have melted and re-frozen. As we left we knew we'd never see that much outdoor ice that smooth ever again.
Jacky was a very easy guy to like--even tempered--would listen when you talked---always met you half way---didn't blow his own horn. I am sorry he's gone.
Cheryl (Cherie) A. Johnson (Gibisch)
Art, that was a wonderful remembrance. Enjoyed reading it.
Lawrence (Larry) D. Schulz (Schulz)
Actually I met Jack in Mr. Eadie's European History class. Sometimes unprepared for the pop quizzes, Jack was very creative in coming up with sound-sounding answers, which left Mr. Eadie laughing out of control.
While we were buddies every afterward, we really had the time of our lives 50 years ago. In fact, 50 years ago today we were on the express train from Paris to Madrid. Jack had suggested that we both tour Europe during the summer of 1967. What a great idea, one that led me to aspiring to eventually live in Europe, where I have been since 1979.
That summer we spent that smmer on our first-ever tours of Europe, touring though all the key countries on trains - England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Bavaria, Germany, East Germany (DDR), Denmark and Holland. Those were the days - 13.5 weeks for $2,500, flights and Eurrail (trains) included. Lots of unforgetable experiences, inlcuding Jack's falling into the Trevi Fountain and nearly killing both of us as he drove down the right side of the road in England,
Great memories, often reminisced during our frequent meetings, especially in Arizona, over the following 49 years. My wife, Claudine, our sons Erik and Nico, and I miss him.
Nancy L. Bitzer (Sturgeon)
Jack Ingebritson was born in Berwyn, Illinois, to Gordon L. Ingebritson and Hazel Jeanette Ingebritson.
He graduated from high school in LaGrange, Illinois, and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University in 1969.
Jack moved to Phoenix in 1970 where he started his business career in commercial real estate. Through the years he advanced into property development, which included residential and commercial projects throughout the Phoenix area.
As an avid traveler, Jack had an insatiable appetite for learning about new places, people, and cultures from all over the world. His family charitable foundation was the focus of his gracious concern of those in need, and has helped countless charities and touched the lives of many over the years.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Joyce Flynn Ingebritson. They enjoyed residency in both Paradise Valley and Prescott, Arizona.