Jack Shortridge

Jack Shortridge passed away peacefully on March 17, 2023 at the age of 88, at his home in Denver, Colorado with his wife Daunine at his side.

In recent years, Jack enjoyed spending time with Daunine and their beloved dog Ollie, and visits with their children and grandchildren. The couple also enjoyed time away at their second home near Manitou Springs, and Jack regularly enjoyed happy hour or lunch with long-time friends.

Over the years, Jack's many hobbies included camping, barbecuing, and restoring a 1940s-era Buick, which he drove at parades and displayed at car shows. He had a natural proclivity toward mechanical and electrical engineering, and loved to fix and tinker with things, once building the family television set and stereo. He endeavored to make wine one year from homegrown grapes, which he admitted was not exactly drinkable, and made excellent spaghetti sauce using his secret ingredient, which will remain secret here.

Jack was born on April 17, 1934 in Cavalier County, North Dakota, where his extended family farmed. With two brothers and three sisters already in the picture, Jack was known as "Jackie" and a bit of a rapscallion. His youngest sister was born when he was eight years old, and they all pitched in to help with farm duties. At the age of two, Jack watered a row of saplings that grew into the farm's windbreak. His worst childhood memory was of a rat running up his pant leg out in the barn, resulting in a lifelong fear of rodents. Jack attended high school in Park River, North Dakota, and, despite not knowing how to swim, enlisted in the Navy at age 19 as an engineer on a submarine, serving on the USS Picuda in the Atlantic.

While serving, Jack met and married Shirley in 1954, and they had four daughters. Jack worked for IBM for many years, and the family lived in Florida, North Dakota, Maryland, and finally Englewood, Colorado, where Jack worked for Storage Tech. Shirley passed away in 1990, and Jack had a second career in real estate and property management. Jack and his second wife, Jeanne, enjoyed many happy years together in Denver, before Jeanne, too, passed away.

Jack and Daunine were both Denver area property managers when they met. Their work relationship led to friendship, then courtship and marriage. They enjoyed getting away to their mountain property to relax and entertain, to ride ATVs, and to observe wildlife on the property, including bear, deer and bobcats.

Jack was predeceased by his brothers and sisters: Alice, Russell, Calvin, Alayne, Donna and Joanne. He is survived by his wife, Daunine; his four daughters, Cindy Grainger (Bill), Sheri Shortridge (Ken Burt), Jennie Shortridge (Matt Gani) and Tricia Hovey (Carlos Corless); and his grandchildren Rowan Velasquez (Terrence Salley), Morgan Velasquez (Abe Rosenburg), Rachael Grainger (Dan Schwemin), Kyle Hovey (Mary Viloria) and Zach Hovey (Jessica Johnson). He had three great grandchildren, Zahra Salley Velasquez, Liliana Salley Velasquez, and Izzy Rosenberg Velasquez. Jack's family grew to include his stepdaughters Pam Rodgers (Ray) and Christine Childers; seven step-grandchildren, including Otis Rooney, and twelve step-great-grandchildren. Jack is also survived by many nieces and nephews and will be missed by all.

A memorial service for Jack will be be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Living Waters Tabernacle Church, 1701 S. Sherman St., Denver CO 80210. All are welcome.

March 26, 2023

Daunine, & Jack's four girls,

I was so sorry to hear of Jack's passing. Jack was one of my very longest friends.
I first became Jack's friend in 1963, sixty years ago. One does not have many friendships
that last that long. My wife and I visited you all in, I believe in 1970. I came back for other
visits. Jack also visited us in Sarasota. We also remembered each others birthdays and
talked on the phone every four or five weeks. You can probably count on one hand friendships
like that. I will truly miss Jack, especially our many long phone calls. May he rest in peace.
-Lerry