John 'Jack' King Strode, 79
John "Jack" King Strode, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully on Dec. 11, 2020, at the age of 79. He will be sadly missed by his family and the many friends whose lives he touched.
Jack grew up in Avondale, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Tom and Louise Strode and a member of the Avondale Presbyterian Church. In his youth, Jack was involved in the Boy Scouts of America where his dedication earned him the honored Eagle Scout award. Starting with Little League baseball as a young boy, Jack's love of sports followed him throughout his lifetime. A stellar athlete, he played baseball, soccer and basketball at Avon Grove High School and went on to play Division I athletics at West Chester University where he was a member of the national championship soccer team. Jack was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduating college with a degree in education, Jack's athleticism carried on to his professional life. He played semi-professional baseball in Wilmington, Delaware, then taught physical education and coached athletic teams at Oxford High School in Oxford, Pennsylvania. Challenging and inspiring young athletes was Jack's dream job!
Multi-talented, Jack honed his carpentry and woodcarving hobbies as well. Gifted with a sharp eye for design, he had an ability to create something beautiful from something ordinary. He even built his first home, which his family fondly dubbed "the house that Jack built." He also won awards for his bird carvings, well-known for their beauty and precision to detail.
Jack's passion for meeting people, sparked a career change as a car salesman in Wilmington. Later, his love of nature and wildlife called him westward to the mountains of Montana. He marveled daily at his view of Flathead Lake and the mountains of Glacier National Park. His final days were spent connecting with loved ones and expressing gratitude for the natural beauty surrounding him. Jack's spirit rests in peace within that beauty.
Jack Strode is survived by his four children, Mark Strode (and wife Lisa) of California, Amyla Lavric of North Carolina, Scott Strode (and wife Kaitlin) of Colorado, and Emily Ng (and husband James) of New York; as well as seven grandchildren; his sister, Judy Strode Young (and husband Tommy) of Pennsylvania; brother Tom Strode (and wife Peggy) of Pennsylvania; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org) in support of those with mental health needs — a cause meaningful to Jack and his family.