John W. "Jack" Storer, III

MADISON - John W. "Jack" Storer III passed away peacefully with his family by his side following a heart attack on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the age of 97.

Jack was an extraordinary man. He was a pillar of strength, who lived a long, full and exemplary life. Jack was an exceptional storyteller. Although the stories may have been slightly embellished over the years, they have provided a treasured, colorful history that have enabled all those whose lives he touched to know about the man they loved and admired - and have now lost.

As a young boy, Jack grew up during the Depression. His grandfather emigrated from Wales to work in the coal mines in Pennsylvania. He went to night school to pursue an education, resulting in his establishing a 50-year career in the installation of steam-generated power plants.

These qualities of hard work, dedication and perseverance were inherited by Jack's dad who, as a teenager, first started work sweeping floors in the Westinghouse Electric Company in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, while also attending night school. There, he learned to be a machinist, resulting in his 50-year long career at Westinghouse.

Jack's dad dreamed of building his own house and, despite the Depression, miraculously managed to do it - engaging the entire family in achieving that dream. He purchased an abandoned mansion for one dollar, dismantled it brick-by-brick and utilized all the materials to create his family's two-story home that still stands to this day in Wilkinsburg. Jack's mom walked to the bank weekly, kids in tow, to politely request a loan for a truck to haul all of the materials from one site to another. After months of her persistent request, the banker could not deny her determined efforts and approved the loan without any collateral! Many tradesmen came by looking for work. Although the family couldn't afford to pay them, they were willing to work for a home-cooked meal that Jack's mom would deliver nightly. Jack and his sister, Virginia, cleaned every brick and pitched a tent on site after digging the basement with a pick, shovel and wheelbarrow. That first winter, the family lived in the basement, the second winter on the first floor and the third winter on the second floor, after the roof was on. Jack and his family grew up in this home and his mom lived there until she died. The memories live on - along with the Storer family qualities of that hard work, dedication, tenacity and frugality.

Jack spent his youth fishing, golfing, and camping with his dad, along with playing football and baseball with his neighborhood buddies. From the age of 5, Jack and his dad would sneak out on the golf course before dusk and play a few holes. His dad gave him a five-iron and Jack would "crack the ball down the fairway" while his dad played.

His middle and high school years were spent in Wilkinsburg, where he was a diligent student and excelled in athletics. His natural athleticism and talent were rewarded with a full football scholarship to Penn State University.

Jack enrolled at Penn State in 1945 when World War II was approaching a climax and more troops were needed. Jack and his cousin decided to enlist in the Marines as "they were going to win the war single-handedly." Jack was assigned to the Pioneer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and spent a year in Tientsin, China. After his year there, he returned to Penn State and took up residence in the Football House. Jack skillfully juggled his academics and athletics during his Penn State years. In 1947, he had the privilege of playing on their undefeated football team, who was invited to play SMU in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. One of Jack's favorite stories was that of his experience at the Cotton Bowl. The officials notified Penn State that the team could not stay in a Dallas hotel with their two black players. The Penn State coach notified his team, and the captain then called a team meeting. The team's resolution was, "if these guys can't go, we don't go"...which was the origin of the chant, "We Are Penn State!" The team and Bowl officials met and arranged for the entire team (including their two black players) to stay at the U.S. Navy Air Station in the Dallas area. The game was played and ended in a 13-13 tie.

Not only did Jack excel on the Penn State football field, he also played basketball there and lettered in both sports. That perseverance was demonstrated in another one of his favorite stories of his ambition to make the basketball team. The Penn State coach told Jack that in no uncertain terms was he interested in football players. Day after day, Jack showed up at the gym, sneakers in hand, determined to get the coach to allow him to try out. The coach relented and scrimmaged Jack against the first team. Needless to say, he made the team.

In December 1949, that basketball team was invited to play in the first Dixie Classic Basketball Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. Penn State was ranked last of the eight teams invited. Jack's team made it all the way to the final round, but lost to the number one home team, N.C. State. The stories of Jack's athletic achievement abound, with that underlying theme of his hard work and tenacity leading him to achieve the goals he set out for himself.

Jack loved to tell the story of his chance encounter with a Penn State professor who stopped to talk football with him as he was sitting on a bench outside of the bookstore. At that moment, he was contemplating skipping his Chemistry Lab to go trout fishing at nearby Spring Creek! The professor was surprised to learn that Jack was a Forestry major (he'd assumed Phys Ed) and connected him with a former Penn State grad who worked for a wood-preserving company in Buffalo, N.Y. To make one of Jack's long, but captivating, stories short, upon graduation he was offered his first job at Osmose Wood Preserving Company. In 1950, jobs were scarce, but Jack became gainfully employed with a $250/month salary, an expense account and a company car! So, as luck and timing would have it, the "only time" Jack cut his four-hour Chemistry Lab led him to a career of nearly 60 years with Osmose Wood Preserving Company.

In July 1950, Jack embarked on that new career with his first assignment being the building and operating of a lumber-treating plant in Ironwood, Michigan. Jack rented a room and placed an ad in the newspaper for help. A local guy, Ray Peterson, answered the ad and their interview took place in Jack's rented room. There, Ray spotted Jack's golf clubs and commented that his sister, Mary, played golf. The blind date was set up, Jack and Mary played their first round of golf together and, after a year's long courtship, were married on August 25, 1951, in Ironwood.  That interview with Mary's brother led to a wonderful 72 plus years of marriage thanks to a set of golf clubs in the corner!

After several years of successfully building treatment plants in the Ironwood area, Jack had an opportunity to relocate to Madison, Wisconsin. There, he developed a new Central Division of Osmose as the company was successfully expanding. Jack and Mary moved into their new pre-cut Pollman home on a corner lot in Monona in the fall of 1953.

After seven years in a home they were outgrowing, Jack and Mary built their "dream home" in the Frost Woods area. Jack loved to tell the story of their acquisition of this beautiful, heavily-wooded lot after he doggedly pursued the lot owner who was reluctant to sell. Once again, that determination paid off. The Storer family grew and their five children were raised in the lovely Frost Woods community where they resided for over 20 years.

Jack's career of selling and installing wood-treatment plants during this time was filled with traveling a territory that included nine midwestern states. Needless to say, those busy days away from his home and his family meant that Mary raised their five kids in his absence - and without a car! Jack was eternally grateful to his remarkable wife for this incredible feat!

Jack's recollection of this family chapter included times with the kids at Frost Woods and Schluter beaches, kiddie parades at Frost Woods park, all the neighborhood kids outside playing, raking leaves, attending high school games in various sports, swim and diving meets at Monona Pool, sailing in the little Skylark boat on Lake Monona, fishing and hunting with the boys, and the beloved family dog, Peggy. Family life was full and Jack juggled his time as a dedicated career man, father and husband. He claimed one of his best surprises for Mary was the presentation of her first car - a blue '68 Mustang, which was waiting for her in the garage as an anniversary gift after 17 years of raising their family without a car.

Jack continued his career at Osmose and developed their Railroad Division in the late '50s. He was elected to be their Executive Vice President in 1985, where he was responsible for all Osmose divisions. He retired from full-time duties in 1988, continuing as a consultant and then serving on their Board of Directors for many years following. All told, Jack devoted nearly 60 years to the company, where he helped grow it from its fledgling years of 20 employees in upper Michigan to several thousand employees world-wide.

It was Mary's turn to surprise Jack at this point in their lives together. After 30 years of marriage, she announced to Jack that she'd found the perfect home for their retirement years. It was a home in Maple Bluff on Lake Mendota with a spectacular view of the capitol. At that time, mortgage rates were 18%, but with their combined resolve, Jack and Mary purchased the home and savored their years there. "Grandma and Grandpa's Resort" was filled with days of kids and grandkids swimming, tubing, waterskiing and fishing.

Jack told stories of their beautiful 50th wedding anniversary, celebrated there with the entire family and a Dixieland band. This was the home where Jack and Mary spent hours - soaking in the luxury of retirement, with evenings spent on the deck, enjoying their late day cocktails, listening to the birds, and admiring Mary's garden along with their glorious view.  When they weren't side by side on the deck, Jack and Mary spent many hours together in their cozy t.v. room cheering on "their" Milwaukee Brewers.

These retirement years were filled with travel. Jack and Mary were adventurous! Jack was an avid reader and found their future vacation homes in the Wall Street Journal and National Geographic. With Jack's detailed research and their curiosity and appreciation for diverse cultures, they purchased homes in Manzanillo, Mexico and later in Guadalajara. There, they loved entertaining their many friends as well as exploring the countryside and enjoying golf on all of the local courses.

They balanced their time in the warmth of Mexico with the wintry weather of Ironwood and built a cozy ski chalet at Big Powderhorn Mountain. They sadly lost the chalet in a fire and rather than rebuild, thought they'd pursue more time in the warmth of Florida and purchased a condo in Bonita Springs. There, they spent their winter months on the golf courses, enjoying 5 p.m. cocktails by the pool, and attending the symphony. They also relished their time together with the kids and grandkids during their spring breaks - fishing, swimming and picnicking at the beach.

Jack had a plethora of Florida fishing stories, but Mary was not overly impressed. She would roll her eyes and say that all the fish looked just the same to her! She was also not impressed with him shooting his age on the golf course, as she said, "it should be easier now that you are so old!" Mary did acknowledge that Jack's achievement of four holes-in-one, along with several Senior Club Championships were worthy of special recognition - but she also made certain that part of the storytelling included her hole-in-one on #4 at Maple Bluff!

Jack was a remarkable man of service and loyalty. During his many years of membership at Maple Bluff, he served as the President. He was a charter member of the Monona United Methodist Church established in 1954 and faithfully attended weekly service there until  the Sunday before he died. He was also involved for many years in the Optimist Club. In 2013, Jack had the opportunity to participate in the Badger Honor Flight. He described it as "the experience of a lifetime." He was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award at Penn State in 2019 and continued his legacy there - establishing the Storer Family Trustee Scholarship. In addition, Jack was selected to be the honorary captain at Penn State's annual Military Appreciation Day at the November 16, 2019, football game vs. Indiana.

These exceptional qualities of service and loyalty were demonstrated throughout the many facets of Jack's life - his family, his career, the military, his church and his community. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a mentor extraordinaire who generously afforded his children and their children every opportunity to explore their dreams. Although he didn't always understand their "modern ways", he was unwavering in his support and encouragement. Jack was an inspiration to all of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

In the last several years of his beloved Mary's life, Jack was her consummate caretaker. He did not leave her side from the moment she woke up to the moment he tucked her in at night. Jack's affection for, and devotion to, "his Mary" was something to behold.  Mary, "the love of his life," passed away less than a year ago and our peace and comfort is in knowing they are reunited once again, side-by-side forever.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Nelle (Forsythe) and John Storer Jr.; his sister, Virginia; his beloved wife, Mary; his son-in-law, Chris Miranda; and his grandson, Tyler Oimoen. Jack is survived by his brother, Don Storer and family; his children, Mary D. Miranda, Jack (Theresa Bubnash) Storer, Bob (Bev) Storer, Carol Polipnick and Janice (John) Oimoen; grandchildren, Mary Lauren Croswell, Heidi (VJ Kodan) Storer, Amy (Carlos Martinez) Storer, Mischa Storer, Monica (Mel) Brown, Caley (Mark) Swanson, Hannah Polipnick, Abby (Abdullah) Adil and Jonson (Sarah) Oimoen; great-grandchildren, Violet and Lydia Kodan, Luke and Will Swanson, and Tyler and Lucy Oimoen; as well as many wonderful nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Penn State Storer Family Trustee Scholarship and mailed to the Office of Annual Giving, 329 Innovation Blvd., Suite 210, State College, PA 16803; Madison Public Library Foundation at (mplfoundation.org) or to the Monona United Methodist Church, 606 Nichols Road, Monona, WI 53716 (mononaunitedmethodistchurch.org).

A memorial service with military honors will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025. A luncheon will follow. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420