Obituary: Rose, John August Iii “Jack”
Age 84
He was born March 7, 1929 in Spokane, WA to John August and Doris Elizabeth (Prichard) Rose.
He was the husband of Joy (Farrier) Rose.
He is survived by his family, John and Kim Rose of Bigfork, MT; Jeri Lee Sigurdson, of Kalua-Kona, HI; Jay Rose, of Spangle WA; two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Jack graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and worked as a mechanic at Hull & Rodell Motors in Spokane.
He became interested in drag racing and helped organize some of the first drag races that were held for many years in Deer Park, north of Spokane.
Jack enlisted in the US Navy in 1952 and became a mechanic on the aircraft carrier USS Bataan and then on Seaplane tenders until 1955.
He worked in Long Beach, CA, for Advanced Muffler Company until the couple returned to Spokane.
He started his first muffler shop in Spokane in 1958.
Over the years he opened four additional shops in Spokane, North of Spokane, and in the Spokane Valley.
He retired and sold the business in 1979 at age 45.
During his years in Spokane, Jack loved to participate in any sport involving wheels and a motor.
He and Joy built a racetrack in their backyard for motorcycle racing, and involved themselves in many new sports as they were developed.
They were involved with starting the first go-cart club, dune buggy racing, and a mini-sprint club.
Jack also raced full size sprint cars throughout the Northwest.
As a licensed pilot, he was fascinated with antique airplanes and his father’s experience as a pilot of the early mail planes.
He decided his goal would be to restore one of the original mail planes that his father flew in the 1930s.
Jack restored a Pitcairn mail plane, one of many airplanes he and Joy worked on together over the years.
They won several awards for their vintage aircraft restoration projects.
Jack was meticulous in his restorations and had many other hobbies that included Wartime History, RC airplanes, and Sporting clays.
A private burial will be held.