---- — TRAVERSE CITY --- John E. "Jack" Leask Sr., 77, of Alpena, passed away June 27, 2011, at Tendercare of Traverse City, following a long illness. He was born on Aug. 23, 1933, in Cheboygan, to Thomas H. and Adelaide A. (McCoy) Leask.John graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1951 and spent four years in the U.S. Air Force from Nov. 21, 1951, until Nov. 20, 1955, and then spent two years in the Reserves. He worked for Higgins Industry in Cheboygan for three-and-a-half years while attending County Normal. Jack received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University in 1963 and his Master of Arts degree in 1976. He began teaching at Anna M. Besser School in Alpena in 1963, and in 1964 and 1965 he taught at Lincoln School. Jack worked as the Community School Director from 1965 until 1977 at Hinks School, Maple Ridge, Ella White and Alpena High School. He served as principal of Maple Ridge School from 1977 until 1980 when he began teaching sixth grade at Anna M. Besser School, retiring from teaching in June of 1993.John loved the out-of-doors. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bird watching, picking morels with his family and friends, and was also an avid rock collector. He enjoyed playing his harmonica and table tennis. He played pool for the Hideaway Bar in Long Lake, was president of the Long Lake Association (at Alpena) and was also a member of American Legion Post 0065. John was also proud of his membership with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia (Laurence) Leask, of Alpena; and children, John (Jane) Leask Jr., of Holt, Roger (Bev) Leask, of Traverse City, Ken (Becky) Leask, of South Carolina, Steve (Kelli) Leask, of Grandville, Marc (Pat) Leask, of Houghton Lake, Dennis (Bobbi) Leask, of Manawa, Wis., and Lisa (Frank) Fico, of Interlochen. Also surviving are his grandchildren, John and Paul Fico, Jessica and Matt Luckey, Jack and Regina, Matthew, Anna, Ben, Kate, Samantha, Alec, Caden, Chad, Nathan, Breanne, Joshua and Sara Leask, Emily and Matt Smith, Shayna and Matt Deschler, Liam and Calli Steffen, Ned and Cole Thompson, Pam Miller, Nicki and Stan Blume, Maxine and Jim Velas; great grandchildren, Preston and Kendall Luckey, Roman and Quinten Leask; brothers, Orville and Lorraine Leask and Angus "Skip" Leask; and sisters, Monica (Lawrence) Vallance, Gerry (Tim) Bussler and Judy (Fred) Maxwell.John was preceded in death by his sisters, Grace Doyal in 1965, Dorothy Spray in 2001, Wanda (Tina) Foley in 2005, Joan Stevens in 2006 and Leora (Lee) Sunderland in 2008.Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 1, at The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that memorial gifts be directed to The Alzheimer's Association of Alpena, 526 W. Chisholm St., Alpena, MI 49707.Please share your condolences, thoughts and memories of Jack with his family by way of his online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com . The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.