On May 16, 1931, Jack Hande was born to Carl and Irene Hande in Woodburn, Oregon at the home of their family doctor. His life came to an end peacefully on March 27, 2025, at his home in Salem. His life was full of many chapters, like the numerous books he authored or compiled on the history of his hometown, Silverton, Oregon.

His family moved to Silverton when he was 6 months old, where it grew with the addition of his sister, Jane. During WWII he volunteered, along with his mother and sister, as an aerial observer, watching for enemy airplanes from a hilltop post. In later years, he led the effort to preserve that structure, now located at the Silverton Country Historical Museum grounds. After excelling in multiple sports in high school, he graduated from Willamette University, where he was also an excellent athlete. He played semi-pro baseball for the Silverton Red Sox. During the Korean War, he served stateside in the US Army as a medical technician.

Jack had a brief marriage, which produced a son. In 1962 he married Mary Zivkovich and adopted her four young children. Jack began his math and science teaching career in Brownsville, Oregon and then four years at Silverton public schools before moving to Salem and teaching at Parrish and Whiteaker Middle Schools. He raised his family in Keizer, where he was instrumental in starting a neighborhood community club and the Northview Terrace Swim Club.

Never one to stay idle, he obtained his builder's license and stayed busy during school breaks performing a variety of construction jobs. Fittingly, his business name was Jack of all Trades, Inc. When his teaching career came to an end, he took a job as a building inspector.

Jack always had a passion for the outdoors. He was an avid mountain climber and cross-country skier, always finding a thrill in instructing others. He summited Mt. Hood numerous times, as well as Mt. Ranier and other mountains throughout the Northwest. He was a long-time officer and mentor in the Santiam Alpine Club. He began a ski rental business out of his basement before opening the Hande Hus, a shop specializing in ski and mountaineering equipment. He hosted ski outings at his vacation cabin, where guests would ski by day, and do singalongs and play games by night. He remained athletic throughout his life, which included playing full-court basketball games into his 70's, against people half his age.

In 1986, Jack married Kay Beck, and welcomed her five children, treating them as if they were his own. They moved back to Silverton, where Jack was known as the 'unofficial' town historian. He volunteered regularly at the Historical Museum, where his collection of wood-carved replica airplanes of WWII are on display. He was always happy to regale visitors with stories of Silverton's past. Capturing history was probably his greatest legacy. He had a remarkable memory and recalled just about every detail of his life. He compiled and published seven volumes of stories and anecdotes from long-time residents about life in a small town.

Throughout his life, Jack had a creative streak. He created hand-made birthday cards for over 100 people every year, each containing poems and cartoon drawings personalized for the individual. He authored a book, 'De-Meaning of Words', which showcased his talent for making a pun out of just about anything. He built a covered wagon that appeared for years at Homer Davenport Days parades. He was always building something, or simply tinkering away, in his workshop.

He was a long-time schoolteacher, community organizer, historian, artist, builder, photographer, woodworker, humorist, author and family man. He truly was a Jack of all Trades, and some would say, "Master of All'.

He was preceded in death by three sons, Larry, Steve and Jeffery. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kay, his sons, Dan (Debby) Hande, Brian (Gina) Beck, Richard (Kristin) Beck, Larry Beck; daughters, Jan (Stephen) Blair, Darla (Rick) Luieten, Michelle Beck; 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 4, 11 AM at The Palace Theater, 200 N. Water St., Silverton, OR.