Jack V. Vincent, 90, passed away peacefully from natural causes, March 6, 2014, at his home in Lakeland, FL. His family and his beloved wife of 69 years surrounded him. He was born May 2, 1923, the much-loved only child of Bant and Cora Vincent in Lum, MI. In 1945, he married a Lum friend he grew up with, Norma Jean Harvie-Hanner.
Jack attended and graduated from Lum School, which was 10 grades. He graduated from Imlay City High School in 1941. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1955 and his Master’s Degree in 1964 from Central Michigan University. He was inducted into Phi Delta Kappa in 1963.
Jack was “a true educator”. In 1942, he attended Lapeer County Normal (teaching school). He began teaching K-8 at Fish Lake School at age 19, but was unable to finish his first year. He was drafted into the Army Air Corps, and after returning from the service, he continued his teaching career, which spanned 36 years. He was the Principal and teacher in Attica, MI from 1944-1949. He was teacher, baseball and basketball coach, and later became the Principal and Assistant Superintendent in North Branch from 1949-1967. In 1967, he moved to Vassar, MI where he was the High School Principal until he retired in 1978.
Jack lived in Lum, Vassar, and National City, MI and Lakeland, FL. He loved living near the Detroit Tigers Spring Training Camp. He enjoyed nearly 30 years at Georgetowne Manor in Lakeland, and Trinity United Methodist Church, Lakeland was his home church. He loved to spend summers at his family cabin in Sandy Lake, MI which has been in his family for over 60 years and five generations.
His wife Norma J. Vincent of Lakeland, FL survives him. Also surviving are five children: Vicki (Vincent) and Dean Thompson of Lapeer, MI; Jacquelene (Vincent) and John A. Smith of New Bern, NC; Richard D. and Anne Vincent of Royal Oak, MI; Del B. and Suzanne Vincent of New Bern, NC; Randall H. and Kristine Vincent of Vassar, MI; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; sister-in-law Bernadine and husband Glenn Shoults, Lithia, FL; sister-in-law Patricia and husband the late Daniel Wolfe, Lapeer, MI; and sister-in-law Nancy and husband Clarence Hamilton, Grand Rapids, MI; several nieces and nephews. Two great-grandsons predeceased him.
He was truly blessed and thanked God everyday for his family, friends, his life work and his dream to see so many Tiger games.
A “Celebration of Life” will be held May 31, 2014 at 11 a.m. – Trinity United Methodist Church, 1310 N. Main St., Lapeer, MI 48446. The family would like to thank the Good Shepherd Hospice of Lakeland, FL for the wonderful care provided by everyone. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 320 W. Main St., Lakeland, FL 33815 Attn: Diana Herchig, In Memory of Jack Vincent.