DANVERS — Jack G. Powell Sr., 86, of Danvers passed away at 11:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 2013, at the Illinois Veterans Home, Quincy, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be at a later date.

Jack was born Nov. 15, 1926, in Neosho, Mo., a son of Alvin and S. Alice Robertson Powell. He married Wanda Rae Bryant on April 30, 1950, in Towanda. She survives.

Also surviving are their five children, Diana Nelson, Normal; Jack “Gary” (Vickie) Powell Jr., Deland, Fla.; Monica (Tom Sandy) Galloway, Danvers; Lisa (Gordon) Maple, Robinson; and Leslie Perez, Danvers. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his identical twin, Joe; brother, Clarence; sisters, Lorraine, Marie, Gleneta and Gladys; and an infant grandson, Christopher.

Jack graduated from Saybrook High School in 1944. He served during World War II in the U.S. Army as a private with the 1853rd Service Command Unit. He earned the Victory Medal.

In 1946, after the war, he was discharged at Camp Bowie, Texas, and he re-enlisted in the regular Army the next day. Upon re-enlisting he served in Battery C of the 68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion of the 1st Armored Division stationed in Europe.

He qualified as marksman on the M-1 rifle and achieved the grade of sergeant. He served as a section leader and a scout during the Occupation. He earned the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany. During his time overseas, he played football for the Army in Europe before coming back to Illinois. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in February 1947 and separated from the Army at Fort Sheridan.

Jack returned to farming with his father before enrolling at Illinois State-Normal University under the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1952 and worked appraising ranch land in Kansas and Oklahoma before becoming a science teacher for Bloomington District 87 schools. Jack taught 28 years before retiring in 1984. He and his wife, Wanda Rae, moved to Florida where they lived in Daytona Beach and Deland for 18 years. They returned to Illinois in December 2002. For the last several years, Jack enjoyed being with his family and friends, watching sports, traveling and eating out.

In lieu of flowers, please help thank the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy for the loving care and attention the staff gave Jack. Memorials may be sent to Illinois Veterans Home, 1707 N. 12th St., Quincy, IL 62301-1397.