Daniel "Jack"

Vance

Daniel Perry "Jack" Vance entered his eternal rest Sunday, September 9, 2018 leaving this earth at VanCrest Skilled Nursing Facility, Payne, Ohio.

Jack was born September 5, 1929 in Paulding County, the eleventh of twelve children born to Charles E. and Emma M. (Lehman) Vance. Always full of energy and spunk Jack grew up working hard on the family farm.  He was constantly by his father's side learning how to repair engines and how to make something out of nothing.  At the young age of 8, he would walk to the one room school arriving early enough to put wood in the stove, earning a quarter every 2 weeks.  He then moved on to working for Bus Baughman, first lighting dynamite to clear fence rows, then moving on to running bulldozers and other equipment.  He quickly began a love affair with anything that moved, especially with fast, slick automobiles.  He raced stock cars on local tracks and at Baer Field raceway, then go-carts.

Jack was a Korean War veteran serving in the US Army. He entered the transportation corp where he drove amphibious vehicles in Greenland, transporting building materials from ship to shore for Tulley Air Force Base.  He then was shipped to Korea where he was in the artillery division.  He once "borrowed" an Army transport truck to take himself and several other soldiers to the USO show starring Bob Hope where they all personally met Mr. Hope.

Always on the move, working several jobs at a time, Jack was co-owner of the Marathon Station and later the Pure Oil Station in Paulding. He worked for James Noneman, driving grain semis.  He ran his brother-in-law's milk trucks while they served in the Army.  He worked for General Portland Cement in Paulding for 26 years retiring in 1992.  He then continued to work at Frank's Precision Tools for his son, Dan Vance.  He would spend hours working on lawn mowers and other small engines in his garage.

Jack loved music and dancing, especially polka dancing and square dancing. In his teens, he won dance skating competitions and wore out many pairs of skates at the Fort Brown skating rink.  He also loved to play cards at the VFW, Senior Center, and the Past Time Restaurant.  One of his greatest passions was fishing on Marble Lake in Michigan where he summered for over 50 years.

Jack was deeply devoted to his faith and worshiped at the Auglaize Chapel Church and later at Bethel Christian of Arthur. He was a faithful and active member of Paulding VFW Post #587, serving in the Honor Guard for countless military burial honors.  Jack was a volunteer fireman for Paulding Village.  Always willing to help anyone, at anytime, he would give veterans in need help whether it was help getting Veteran Benefits or money for a meal and gas.

Jack was married to the love of his, Violet Mae Finnegan. She preceded him in death on November 21, 2000.  He was the devoted and loving father of three, grandfather to five, and great-grandfather to ten, with two more on the way.

He is survived by his children: Emma Rudovsky (Steven Siblisk), Rochester, IN, Grace Crockett, Van Wert, and Daniel R. (Lynn) Vance, Paulding; grandchildren:  Michael (Chaney) Walthour, Valparaiso, IN, Susan (Kenny) Clark, Van Wert, Jason (Casandra) Vance, Paulding, Kim Metz, Van Wert, and Jessica (Austin) Scheiner, Payne; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Emma Lou Mantle, Garrett, IN; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, and wife, Violet, he was preceded in death by sisters, Ruth Tinlin, Pearl Rinebolt, Mae Barrett, Hazel Vance, Faye Fritzinger and Lavinna Hoffman; brothers, Hugh "Bus" Vance and Charles "Dick" Vance; and his son-in-law, John F. Rudovsky.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the countless friends and family who visited, prayed and supported them through this journey with Jack. Special thanks to Bethel Christian Church family and Pastor Chris Baker, his many friends from the Paulding Senior Center, VFW, the staffs of the Paulding Hospital and Parkview Hospitals.  Finally to the extraordinary compassionate caring staffs of VanCrest of Van Wert and VanCrest Skilled Nursing Center, Payne and Great Lakes Hospice, there are no words to say what you mean to us and thanks for the love and care you gave Jack in his final days.

Jack's zest for life, his humility, his compassion for mankind, his steadfast patriotism and his hard work ethic shall live on in all the lives he has touched. If a man shall stand taller when bending to help another, he would have stood as a giant among men.  Remaining true to his roots and principles, he lived what he believed to be an ordinary life.  In the hearts of all he touched, he shall forever be the extra ordinary example of a one of a kind man.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 AM Friday, September 14 at the Bethel Christian Church, Arthur, OH. He will be laid to rest in Auglaize Chapel Cemetery with VFW Post #587 conducting military graveside rites.

Visitation will be 2 – 8 PM Thursday, September 13 at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding. There will be visitation on Friday at the church from 10 AM until service time.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations made to Bethel Christian Church or Paulding VFW Post #587.