John Harold "Jack" Vanoudenhaegen was born in Verboort, Oregon on the Vanoudenhaegen fam in the old house that still stands on the property. He was baptized at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Verboort. When he left home with his godparents and father his name was supposed to be Harold John but his godmother, Josephine Vandecoevering insisted that he needed to be named after his godfather, John Vandecoevering His mother was not happy about that and never did call him John. Thus, the name "Jack".
He attended elementary and high school at Verboort, playing three sports: football, baseball and basketball. He always said he only took up space on the basketball court. He was chosen to play in the East West Shrine Game in 1954. His family gave him a lot of "guft' over the football game he played in Bay City in the mud that got deeper and deeper as time went on. (His family's story, not his).
Jack volunteered for the draft right after high school and spent most of his two year service with the United States Army in Germany. He traveled quite a bit while there - Ireland, Belgium, Italy and even got to see the Pope in Rome. He received his Honorable Discharge on November 26, 1956.
On November 21, 1959, Jack married Lorraine Stutzer at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Forest Grove and together they had two sons and two daughters. They lived in Hillsboro for thirteen years before buying and moving to his family farm in Verboort where they built the house where he lived until his death. Jack and Lorraine were just two days short of their 45th Wedding Anniversary.
After retiring, Jack and Lorraine traveled quite a bit When asked his favorite place to travel, his answer always was "where ever my wife is'. But his greatest enjoyment in retirement were his twelve grandchildren, whether helping them garden or watching them play any kind of sport He spent many hours "chasing ball games".
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Selma and two brothers, Albert and Vincent
Jack was loved and will be missed by his wife, Lorraine, of the family home in Verboort, his four children and their spouses, Michael and Sandy Vanoudenhaegen of Comelius; Vicki and Steve Tagmyer of Tualatin; Kelly and Tom Fishback of Hillsboro; and Dominic and Kim Vanoudenhaegen of Portland; and twelve grandchildren, Melissa, Natalie, Stephanie, Rebecca, David and Kevin Vanoudenhaegen; Michelle and Dawson Tagmyer, Adam and Spencer Fishback; and Luke and Matthew Vanoudenhaegen.
He is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Barbara Vanoudenhaegen of Clackamas; two sisters and brother-in-law, Antoinette Phelps of Beaverton; and Evelyn and Curt Jungwirth of Newberg and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home