On December 18, 2023 the amazing life of Jack Duane Adams came to an end as the result of complications of a broken hip suffered in October. Jack passed quietly in his sleep at his home in Indian Wells, Calif. He was born in Kanab, Utah in the summer of 1930 as the eldest of 3 children to Marve F. and Thelma Adams, where he attended school, then went to Dixie College until he was drafted and sent to Japan where he served as a supply specialist during the Korean War and learned substantial Japanese. Upon returning he married Marilyn Tait of Mt. Carmel in the St. George temple then finished college at BYU and later dental school at Loyola University in Chicago. Jack moved his family to Chatsworth, Calif, where they raised their 3 children and he practiced dentistry for 23 years until medical issues forced him to leave that field after which he became a general contractor building and remodeling commercial and residential units in Calif and Utah. Jack once learned of a home that was going to be demolished to enable freeway construction and supervised its move, remodeling and sale as part of a church fundraising project which raised $75K in 1974, no small sum for the time. He became a private pilot eventually licensed to operate multi-engine aircraft. Jack was a devoted church member and had many callings; he and Marilyn served a mission for the LDS church in SLC and he eventually became a regional communications director for the church in SoCal. Jack loved to cruise and sailed around the globe three times visiting 52 countries and he enjoyed going to Alaska to fish for salmon. He was always driven and accomplished impressive achievements in life, while having significant impact on the world and people around him. He will be missed by many. Funeral services will be held at Mosdell Mortuary Wed, Dec 27, 2023 at 1:00, with interment in the Kanab Cemetery after.
Jack is the last of his siblings to pass and is survived by his 3 children; Marve Adams, Heather Horner, Kristen Westover and their respective families.
You are invited to listen to the Funeral through the link below:
Marve, Heather and Kristen, I was saddened to hear of the passing of your father. He and your entire family were so good to me when I began my adventure of traveling to your home in California to get braces on my teeth in 1965 (the year my dad passed away from leukemia). Your family welcomed me (a quiet shy Fredonia girl) into your home and did your best to keep me from getting homesick as your dad and his friend Dr. Moffat put braces on my teeth. I enjoyed many adventures while there and loved seeing the groves of orange trees and visiting with Uncle Adrain and Aunt Margaret’s family. I will forever cherish those memories, and ‘straight’ teeth! I loved how your dad would always stop and visit my mom when he was in Kanab, and would call her regularly when he was back in California. I love you all! May you find peace in happy memories!
Marve Heather and Kristen- Joe and I were saddened to hear the news that Jack (your dad ) had passed.
I especially was flooded with many wonderful memories of times spent with your family. We had some great times together. It’s a hard time seeing our parents growing older and leaving us. What a joyous reunion there will be some day! Both Jack and Marilyn hold a special place in my heart especially those teenage years growing up and having great role models to learn from.
Thinking of you today and hoping you feel the love from many of us who you were part of our lives. Love Karen and Joe
Marve, Heather and Kristin, so sorry to hear about your father. I am really going to miss the “Hello Verlynn, this is Jack Adams.” I really enjoyed hearing about his travels. I was very happy that he always kept touch with me.
We send our love and condolences.
Love,
Keith and Claudia Seegmiller Church
You don’t know me, but your gr pa Marve Adam’s and my gr ma Juie Adam’s Seegmiller were siblings. Keith and I lived in Kanab in the 1982-1990s. Gr ma Seeg passed away during that time and I was asked to give her eulogy. That’s when I meet your gr pa Marve . He told me a few stories of my gr ma. I have a cassette tape recording of my gr ma’s eulogy, and after hearing your wonderful eulogy recording of your dad I realize how precious it is for family posterity, so I will find it and add it to Family Search Pedigree. I loved my time with my gr ma and gr pa in the Washington County fields near St. George. My father was George Burke Seegmiller. Hope to get to know you better.