Jack Lewis Balch

Nov. 16, 1925 - May 25, 2013

Date of Service: Jun. 1, 2013

Jack Lewis Balch

BURLEY • Jack Lewis Balch, 87, passed away Friday, May 25, 2013, in Lewiston, Idaho, with his family at his side.

Jack was born Nov. 16, 1925, at Pocatello, Idaho, to parents Charles and Marion Balch. Jack grew up in Rupert, Idaho, where he graduated from high school in 1943. Following high school, he had a brief career in the U.S. Navy before graduating from the University of Colorado.

After college, Jack began working for JC Penney in Burley, Idaho, where he met his wife to be, Dorothy Lewis. Jack and Dorothy were married May 2, 1949, and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

Jack spent his entire professional career with the JC Penney Co., which included working in stores in Utah, Montana, Idaho and Washington. In 1969, Jack was transferred from Moscow, Idaho, to Lewiston, where he managed the Lewiston Penney store until 1979, including the move from downtown Lewiston to the Lewiston shopping mall.

Jack was transferred to Spokane, Wash., in 1979 and retired from Penney’s in 1985. During his 37-year career with Penney’s, Jack received numerous awards and was at one point in time the governmental affairs representative for the state of Idaho.

Following his Penney career, Jack and Dorothy moved back to Lewiston to run Betty’s World of Travel until they sold it in 1990. Jack was active in the Rotary Club until his final days and was active in the chamber of commerce in all cities in which they lived. Jack was a Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club and served as the president of the chamber of commerce while in Lewiston.

In retirement, Jack loved playing golf with his golf buddies at the Lewiston Golf and Country Club and would tell the story of his “Hole-in-One” to anyone that would listen. Jack and Dorothy also enjoyed sporting events of all kinds, whether it was LCSC Women’s Basketball, LCSC Baseball or Idaho football. They were strong supporters of the local sports programs and could regularly be found at the games. Jack and Dorothy were also frequent travelers and made it to every state and more than 40 foreign countries.

Jack is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son, Jeffrey (Susan) of San Diego, Calif.; and many special nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Marian; his brother, Robert; and sister-in-law, Jan. Dorothy, Jeff and Susan wish to thank Dr. James Fisher for the excellent care throughout the years and the wonderful caregivers at Royal Plaza Care Facility that watched over him the past couple of months.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home, 920 21st Ave. in Lewiston.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 30, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints at Ninth and Preston in Lewiston. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, in the Declo Cemetery in Declo, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, any donations in memory of Jack may be made to the Lewis-Clark State College Women’s Basketball program or to a charity of your choice.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at the Declo Cemetery under the direction of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.