John "Jack" William Breen, 87, of Duluth, MN, passed from this life to eternity while surrounded by his family on July 22, 2019, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. Jack will be remembered as an incredibly loving and loyal husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whose family traditions will be cherished for generations to come. Jack was born in Duluth on August 29, 1931, to John and Hazel Breen. He was a 1949 graduate of Duluth Central High School, where he met the love of his life, Donna Mae Stanius, while working together on the yearbook. The two were united in marriage on May 24, 1952. Together they raised their two daughters, Teri and Susan, and enjoyed many happy years residing in Duluth, Wichita Kansas, and their winter home in Sarasota, Florida. Following high school, Jack trained as a machinist apprentice at the Duluth Herald News Tribune. In December of 1950, as our country became involved in the Korean War, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a ship's navigator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Badoeng Strait in the Pacific Theatre. He rose to the rank of Quarter Master 3 and was awarded the China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. Following his military service, he returned to the Duluth newspaper, initially as a typesetter and later progressing to Production Manager. Jack retired from his career at the Wichita Eagle-Beacon after 36 years of service. Jack greatly cherished time with his family, especially his grandchildren in later years, who remember him for his delicious homemade ice cream with unique flavor twists, snowmobile trips and target shooting experiences, camping at Bent Trout Lake and swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's pool. Jack excelled at shooting sports, attaining many trap, skeet, and sporting clay awards in Kansas and Minnesota, and he delighted in passing on his love of these sports by teaching his grandchildren the skills. While family was Jack's priority and source of greatest pride, he remained intensely dedicated to his country throughout his life, never forgetting his years of service or those with whom he served. He took part in the 2018 Honor Flight Northland from Duluth to Washington D.C., a trip that was deeply meaningful to him. Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Donna. Jack is survived by his daughters, Teri (Ernest) Kiehn of Cape Coral, FL, and Susan (Jim) Denney of Duluth; and sisters, Joanne Langfus and Sally Cole. Grandpa Jack will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Thomas (Katya) Kiehn, Kristin Kiehn, Kate Kiehn, Jimmy (Linda) Denney, Eric Denney, Matthew (Jordan) Denney, and Molly (Rob) Audette; and great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Victoria Kiehn, and Isabelle, James, Emily, and Teppen Denney. Jack is also survived by his special friend, Sheila Petrovich; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends in Duluth, Kansas and Florida. The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Mary's Medical Center and Hospice for their kindness, compassion and care. VISITATION: 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 29th at Lakeview Covenant Church, 1001 Jean Duluth Road, with funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. To honor Jack's wishes, memorials are preferred to Lakeview Covenant Church or Duluth Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss.

Visitation

JUL 29. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CDT)

Lakeview Covenant Church 1001 Jean Duluth Rd Duluth, MN, 55804

Funeral Service

JUL 29. 11:00 AM (CDT)

Lakeview Covenant Church 1001 Jean Duluth Rd Duluth, MN, 55804