Always had solid advice and reminded me to keep doing the “Important Work”  when I’d get caught up in day-to-day business he would remind me the work our nonprofit did was the important stuff and above all keep making efforts there. Whenever we came up short on fundraising for events Jack would always call and ask “what’s left, who didn’t get sponsored yet- how many can I take “ and then have an idea on what we could do differently next time that might capture more attention to the need. 

I Could feel Jack really believed in me, wether it was a design & build opportunity or just a thought he would get excited and leave you feeling confident that nothing was out of reach and in a few days or weeks you would see his number on the Id just checking back in on whatever it was…

I’ll miss him but strive to care for and inspire others as he did us. 

-PJ KRATOHVIL 

As many have written, Jack made a huge impact on our entire family. I was a single mom with three kids when I first moved to Lake Kiowa in 2011. Jack and Patty took all of us under their wings and became instant family.

My son was 3 at the time and Captain Jack patiently taught him to “ski” behind his boat. As he grew older, my son always said Jack was the only one he trusted to pull him on a tube. And look at the two of them together in our pool just a few years ago. As everyone knows, Jack loved diving and really wanted to foster that love in my son.

My middle daughter adored the entire Oppel family, and we bought her first car from Jack - of course he gave us a great deal!

Jack was always so kind to me and was a key person in helping me to mend my relationship with my ex husband. I’ll never forget that.

And who was the first person to reach out after my oldest daughter had my first grandchild? Jack was almost as giddy as I was because he adored his own grandson so much.

As with most of you, I have so many wonderful memories of Jack and the entire Oppel family. As Billy Joel sang, “Only the good die young”. So very true in this case.

I’ll miss you terribly, Jack.

Patty

Joe and I send our sincere sympathy and love    💕 Jack was a great guy and such a king neighbor  We still miss you at Lake Kiowa 

Many Blessings Jan Henderson