Obituary of Jack William Wild

Dr. Jack W. Wild died 27 September 2020, at Lewis Gayle Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, he was 97 years old. A memorial service will be held at the Villa Heights Baptist Church, 11:00, 17 October 2020, Jake Huffman will conduct the service. Jack will be laid to rest at the Palestine Baptist Church Cemetery, 9244 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, VA 24104. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Villa Heights Baptist Church, 4080 Challenger Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24012. Jack was the youngest of three siblings; Louise Starr, and Wayne Wild, both preceded him in death. Jack’s wife, Anna Marie Martens, preceded him in death in 2009. Jack is survived by two children Lynda Chappell, Larry Wild and Jan Wild (spouse); three grandchildren Dale Chappell and Sarah Chappell (spouse), Jame Affeldt and Todd Affeldt (spouse), Jason Wild and Andrea Wild (spouse). Jack is survived by six great grand children, Morgan Affeldt, Maddison Affeldt, Rylee Affeldt, Madilyn Chappell, Cooper Chappell, and Zoë Wild. Jack Wild was born in Woonsocket, South Dakota, 8 June 1923. His parents George and Lura Wild were share croppers moving from farm to farm in South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri looking for work during the Great Depression. Jack attended three different high schools during this period, graduating from Woonsocket High School in 1940. It was Jack’s plan to go to college, and in the Fall of 1941 he started classes at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The Army Air Corps was offering a program in conjunction with a year of college credit, resulting in commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant Weather Forecaster. After a year of training Jack was notified there were no more commissioned forecaster positions left and only enlisted weather observer positions were remained open. Jack was reassigned to an airbase near Sioux City, Iowa for additional weather observer training. At a small church based USO, in July 1943, Jack met Anna Marie Martens. Jack was stationed at the Sioux City Air Base for little over a year and was engaged to Anna by Christmas 1944. After a short engagement Jack and Anna were married on 26 January 1945. Jack was mustered out of the US Army Air Corps on 14 February 1946. Following Jack’s departure from the Army, Jack and Anna returned to Brookings, South Dakota where Jack resumed his studies in March 1946. He completed his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics in 1948. Jack and Anna decided to pursue a PHD program in physics at Kansas University, Lawrence, KN. Lynda Wild was born on 14 April 1949, and Larry Wild was born on 27 May 1951. Jack completed his PHD degree in 1952. It was at this point Jack began his career in industry. First working for The Bureau of Standards near Washington, D.C. Later working for a series of government contractors doing business with the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio, and later with a company called Cook Electric from 1956 to 1961 outside of Chicago, Illinois. Here Jack had his first taste of the space business. In 1961 Jack went to work for Westinghouse near Baltimore, Maryland. It was here Jack developed his reputation in the space business as an engineer and manager. In 1963 Jack was hired by NASA to head up the Advanced Studies Directorate of Manned Space Flight, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. In a series of positions of ever increasing responsibility Jack moved up the NASA chain of command culminating his career as the Program Manager for the Tactical Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Program in 1983. Jack retired from NASA in 1987 after nearly 24 years of service. Following his retirement from NASA, Jack and Anna sold their Maryland home and moved to Smith Mountain Lake near Huddleston, VA. Here they enjoyed their life together, traveling, gardening, and were very active in the Palestine Baptist Church. Both Jack and Anna taught Sunday School, and Jack headed up the Building Committee. In 1999 Jack and Anna sold the lake house and moved to Vinton, VA. Here they made a new life for themselves revolving around Villa Heights Baptist Church and their new church family. On a personal note, my Dad was an unusual pairing of South Dakota farm boy and rocket scientist. He was comfortable talking about farming or preparing a presentation for the international space community. He was a gentile, caring, Christian man. He was a good father, wonderful husband, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend. What more can be said? What better legacy to leave behind? I will treasure our many years together, our long walks, our shared remembrances, and our love for one another. God bless you and keep you, we miss you so much. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Villa Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Jake Huffman officiating. Interment will follow at Palestine Church Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.