Leo Jackson “Jack” McElwee, 99, died March 21, 2023s at Heritage Estates. A service will be held Monday, March 27 at 10:00 am at WestWay Christian Church with Pastor Joe Petersen officiating. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill with military honors. Visitation will be Sunday, March 26 from 2-4 pm at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be made to WestWay Christian Church or Summit Christian College. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com.
Jack was born September 8, 1923 in Clay Center, Nebraska to Leo and Fern (Randall) McElwee. At an early age he and his mother relocated to the Valley. He received his early education in southern Sioux County and Morrill schools. He was fond of driving past the site of the Spotted Tail School north of Mitchell pointing out where he went to grade school. He was graduated from Morrill High School and attended what was then Scottsbluff College.
Jack served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a field radio operator during WWII. He fought in and amazingly survived four major battles in the Pacific Theater, the last of which was the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Upon his discharge from the Marine Corps and his return to the Valley, Jack began working for his uncle, Harry Randall, learning the plastering trade. Jack owned and operated a successful business as a plastering contractor for over fifty years. He plastered and stuccoed hundreds of houses and many major commercial buildings in the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming.
He married Josephine Gompert on June 1, 1950. They reared their family in Scottsbluff and the Lake Alice community. When Jo died in December of 2018, they had celebrated 68 years of marriage.
Jack was baptized into Christ in 1956. He was a member of the Church at Bryant, (now WestWay Christian Church) from that time on. During most of those years he served as an elder. He was also a youth and adult Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent; he served on various committees and led numerous Bible studies. Jack and Jo were known for creating inspirational skits for many church events. For several years he was a trustee for Platte Valley Bible College, (now Summit Christian College), also serving as the chairman of the board of trustees.
Many who knew him were influenced and shaped by his example and integrity. Jack mentored many people through his work and his Christian life. He worked hard and knew how to enjoy life, but always most important to him was his Savior and his family.
Jack enjoyed the outdoors and liked to hunt and fish, including hunting trips in Wyoming, and fishing trips to remote areas in Canada. He liked the planning and preparation as much as the trips.
Jack will be lovingly remembered and missed by his four children and their spouses: John and Paula McElwee, Mary and Walter Cline, Shannon and Les Kampbell, and Shelley and Dale Harvey; eleven grandchildren: Amanda McElwee and husband Matt, Benjamin Cline and wife Jamie, Katie Eder and husband David, Titus Cline and wife Jaimee, Joseph Cline and wife Leslie, Bryan Kampbell and wife Aimee, Erin Kampbell, Lindsay Eisenmenger and husband Scott, Blaine Harvey and wife Krysta, Lacey Adamson and husband Clint, and Dylan Harvey; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo; father, Leo; mother, Fern Haskin; step-father, Lewis Haskin; and sister, Julialynn Butler.
Jack’s family expresses thanks and appreciation to the nurses and staff for their compassionate care, and to the residents for their friendship and kindness during Jack’s stay at Heritage Estates.