John “Jack” Frost
John “Jack” Frost
John “Jack” Frost
April 18, 1920 – June 25, 2015
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 95
John “Jack” Joseph Frost, 95, of Oskaloosa, died Thursday, June 25, 2015, at the MHP Hospital in Oskaloosa. Jack was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, the son of Charles Ira Frost and Nora Ethel McCullough Frost.
Jack grew up in Seattle, Washington, until age 12 when his father passed away. His mother moved the family of six children to Missouri, where their families were awaiting.
Jack quit school to enter the workforce, to help his mother feed the family during the Great Depression. He worked on his uncle’s farm until age 17, at which time he and his older brother Ted went to work at a CCC (Civilian Conservation Camp) in California, fighting fires. After a year or so fighting fires, Jack got a trucking job hauling potatoes in the mountains of Colorado. His older brother Ted moved to Baltimore, Maryland, so Jack left Colorado to move nearer his older brother, and got a job working in the ship yards. Jack established himself with a good job.
Suddenly Jack got called into the Air Force during World War II. He was recruited into the Flying Tiger Unit and was a navigator on the B-24 Bombers.
Following the war, Jack met Evelyn Garrett, and on July 3, 1945 they were married in Oskaloosa. To this union two daughters were born: Linda and Susan. Evelyn died February 19, 2014, after more than 68 years of marriage.
Jack worked for the Ford Motor Company in Oskaloosa, Iowa for many years. He went out on his own in the 1960’s with Frost Cities Service Gas Station and Garage. After several years of long hours, he felt he needed a change and went to the VA Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa. There he trained to be an X-Ray Tech. He retired from the VA Twice, with the last being at 80 years old.
Jack was very active in his church. He and Evelyn enjoyed taking short trips to Colorado and Missouri to visit relatives. Jack and Evelyn also enjoyed traveling with his younger brother Lloyd and wife Ruth to many interesting areas in the United States.
His family includes his two daughters: Linda Surfus of Oskaloosa and Susan (& Steve) Salevsky of Leighton; six grandchildren: Stephen, Jr. (& Kerri) Salevsky, Jessica (& Matthew) Perry, Melissa Salevsky (& Oosman Saeed), Julie (& B.J.) Carter, Shawn (& Deb) Surfus and Tami (& Mark) Van Wyk; fifteen great grandchildren: Zackary Salevsky, Brandon Salevsky, Nicholas Salevsky, Jace Perry, Jayden Perry, Aaliyah Saeed, Jannah Saeed, Shahrazed Saeed, Jayce Carter, Cayden Carter, Brayton Carter, Colton Surfus, Clayton Surfus, Dylan Van Wyk and Trey Van Wyk; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife Evelyn Garrett Frost, Jack was preceded in death by his parents; and infant granddaughter; and brothers and sisters: Teddy Rex Frost, Eileen Isophene Vandevender, Glen Edward Frost, Ruth Genevieve (Jinx) Smith, and Lloyd George Frost.
A private family graveside service and burial with military honors will be held in the Forest Cemetery. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Monday, June 29, after 10 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel to greet friends and relatives from 6-8 Monday evening.
Memorials may be made to The Mahaska County Freedom Rock Project.
