John D. (Jack) Cochrane III turned 90 years old Nov. 12, 2016 and died Jan. 15, 2017, after a brief illness. He lived a long and full life. They broke the mold when Jack Cochrane came into the world, and heaven is bracing for his entry!
He was born in Wyoming, Ohio, to John D. Cochrane Jr. and Frances Earl Cochrane. As a teenager, his nickname was “Pretzel” because he was so thin. He excelled in basketball and tennis. He achieved the rank of Life in Boy Scouts. He stayed active as a leader (Uncle Jack), experienced Philmont and several other high adventure bases. His “knot head” scouts really knew their knots!
He served in the Army at the Presidio in California, where he typed court martial papers for General Stillwell. He attended Purdue University, where he got a degree in chemical engineering. While at Purdue, he met his wife Marie on the tennis courts. They married 65 years ago on June 30, 1951.
Jack worked for Hercules Powder Company and Hoover Ball Bearing in early plastic industry sales. He operated several entrepreneurial endeavors later in his working career. Their children John, Barb and Mary Ann were born in New Jersey. They built their family home in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1965 and were blessed to have amazing neighbors and friends for 50 years. They had wintered many years in the Jacksonville area with their daughter Barb, and in 2015 they moved to Fleet Landing, a continuing care retirement community.
Clear Lake, Indiana was a special place for Jack. He was heavily involved in the sailing program there. He enjoyed fishing, playing tennis and playing golf – with a new putter and/or putting stroke each year. Less than a year ago, Jack was still riding his tricycle up to nine miles a day at Fleet Landing.
Jack was the king of “putzing” – no product was complete without Jack’s improvements. He and Chuck Single invented The Squeezer™, a male incontinence device that is comfortable to wear and now sold commercially.
Jack is survived by his wife of 65 years Marie Cochrane and their children (and spouses) John (Tammy) Cochrane of Hiram, Ohio; Barb Wenger (Klaus) of Ponte Vedra Beach; Mary Ann Gardner (Mark) of Dunwoody, Georgia; and nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Several beloved dachshunds predeceased Jack, most recently Trina.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jack Cochrane’s name to the Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy at 111 Gecowets Drive, Fremont, IN 46737 or the Boy Scouts of America at Huron Trails District, 3914 Bestech Drive, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
Please visit our online tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com. Services are under the direction and care of Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home.
