Jack M. Dodge

DODGE, Jack M.1933-2018, age 85, entered heaven on December 2, 2018 in Omaha, NE. A memorial celebration of life will be held at Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 10:30 AM ( 2530 S 165th Ave) Jack was born June 28, 1933 in Shickley, Nebraska to Walter and Eva Dodge. He was the youngest of ten children. Shortly after graduation from Shickley High School in 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and served in Germany before his honorable discharge in 1955. He then enrolled in Fairbury Junior college earning an Associates Degree. While in undergraduate school, he married Peggy Deterding, a teacher from Ruskin, Nebraska, and together they raised three children in McCook, Nebraska. They housed numerous foreign exchange students and assisted refugees through an organization he created called Lutheran IOU (Investment in Others Unlimited) in cooperation with their church, Peace Lutheran Church. After earning a B.S. degree at Peru State Teachers College, Jack began a teaching career in education and later completed a masters degree in educational psychology with certification as a school counselor from Northern Colorado University, Greely. Additional education and certification were acquired as an educational psychologist at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. His lifelong career included Western and Tecumseh Public Schools, Beatrice State Home for Mentally Handicapped, Director of Special Education at Educational Service Unit #5 (piloting a plane to reach students in remote areas), Psychologist for the Regional Services for the Handicapped office in McCook. His last 17 years of service were as a Psychologist for the McCook Public Schools, from which he retired in 1994. He held offices in Nebraska Council for Exceptional Children, Nebraska Education Association (President), charter member and past President of McCook Optimist Club, and served as an elder at Peace Lutheran in McCook. He received the Nebraska Outstanding Psychologist Award in 1993. Jack and Jeanene Haldeman of Hastings, Nebraska were united in their second marriages in 1994. His first wife, Peggy, preceded him in death in 1986. On retirement, Jack and Jeanene Dodge moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Kindness, compassion, gentleness, being soft spoken, and caring deeply for others is how Jack will be remembered by his family, friends, and acquaintances. He was a peacemaker and comforter to others. With refreshing humor, he was greatly loved by all who knew him. Jack is survived by his wife of 24 years, Jeanene, his children Wes (Nancy) Dodge, June (Todd) Porter, Shel Prince and Mary (Kim) Austin; Stepdaughter, Janet (Harvin) Moore. Jack had twelve grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions be made to fight childhood cancer through Angles Among Us or Pediatric Cancer Action Network.