Jack Francis Itami

Jack Francis Itami of Springfield, Oregon passed away peacefully at his home on December 4, 2022, at the age of 84.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Highland Cemetery.

Jack was born on June 13, 1938, in Williston, North Dakota to Dan Roku and Lila Frances (Kinsella) Itami. His family moved to Great Falls when he was a young boy. He attended Great Falls public schools through elementary and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1956. He went to work for Safeway food stores. The economic times were hard, and Jack decided to move west to Oregon in the late 60’s – early 70’s. He started to work in Corvallis at Fred Meyer food stores and worked his way up to Produce Manager. He retired from Fred Meyer at the Santa Clara/Eugene store in 1998.

He met and married his wife Karen while working at the Santa Clara store. They were together for 24 years.

Jack’s main hobbies were working with wood, rebuilding his 1955 Chevy Bel Air, and most of all, fishing. He loved spending time with his friends on the weekends, and sometimes for a week at a time fishing and camping.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Nadine Lynn (Itami) Freeman; son, Dean Brent (Itami) Threet; two sisters, Lila Mae (Itami) Stortz and June Ellen (Itami) Spurrier; and a granddaughter, Geri Anne Itami. He is survived by his wife, Karen; brother, Daniel Itami; daughter, Kim Marie (Itami) Walton; sons, Ronald Stephen Itami, David James Itami, and Don Brian (Itami) Threet; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.