Jack B. Rountree

Jack was born in Branson, Missouri, August 16, 1927 to Frank and Ethyl Rountree. Jack was
predeceased by his parents and his brother Jim Rountree of Myrtle Creek, Oregon.
Jack married the love of his life Kathryn Delia Paup August 31, 1952 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Jack is
survived by his beautiful bride and partner of 72 years - Kathryn ("Katie") Rountree. Son - David Alan
Rountree, his spouse - Stephanie Joanne Rountree, Granddaughter - Melissa Beth Rose, her spouse -
Abraham Alan Rose, Great Grandson - Vincent Tiberius Rose, Grandson - Tyler Jack Rountree, Son -
Michael Steven Rountree, his spouse - Ruth Ann Rountree, granddaughter - Hannah Leah Rountree.
.
Jack is remembered by his nephews, Colonel "Bernie" David - Retired and Ronald S. David and their
families. Bernie and Ron were like sons to him.
On Saturday April 27, 2024, Graveside Memorial Services
will be held at Roseburg Memorial Gardens 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
That same afternoon, a Celebration of Life will be held at the
Roseburg Country Club Banquet Room
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Lunch will be provided.
Jack's parents moved from Branson to California and then later to Oregon due to the economic pressures
of the depression era. Jack's boyhood was spent in the area of Remote, Oregon where Jack and Jim had
the run of the valley.
Jack's hard work ethic was developed at a neighbor's ranch where Jack worked all summer for a dollar a
day to conquer his goal of buying a horse "Ted" and a saddle and achieving his dream of becoming a
cowboy like John Wayne.
Jack and his parents later moved west to Coos Bay, Oregon where he attended Marshfield High School.
He was known as the "James Dean" of the school because he had managed to purchase a motorcycle for
his transportation.
Jack was also known for his athleticism being the quarterback of the football team and the high point man
of the track team. He participated in so many track events they actually had to schedule the events so
that Jack could take part in all of them.
After high school Jack and his buddies enlisted in the Army as the draft was still in place from World War
II. He was tasked with guarding the nuclear testing site at Los Alamos, New Mexico and quickly achieved
the rank of sergeant.
Jack was a true patriot who loved The United States of America and appreciated the freedoms he
enjoyed to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
He had been deeply concerned about the U,S, borders not being secured and the problems that have
been occurring in our country as a result of that. He felt duty bound to uphold his oath to the Constitution
of the United States and the values for which it stands. (Some of you know the story !)
After receiving an honorable discharge he headed back to Oregon and Klamath Falls to utilize his military
benefits and attend auto mechanics classes at OIT trade school. He earned his certificate.
One fateful Saturday night in February of 1949, Jack attended a community dance where he walked
across the dance floor and asked a beautiful young girl for a dance. The romance began and they danced
the rest of the night together.
However, he did not quite hear her name when he asked but he did get her phone number correct.
("Thank God! Or I would not be here to tell this story !" )
He soon called her, so they could arrange to have their next date.
Their special relationship began and their partnership lasted 75 years.
Being self taught, he began his home building career by beginning to build Jack and Katie's starter home
on Salida Ct. prior to them being married. However as with most building projects the deadline to have
the house completed on time by the wedding date did not quite happen.
So not everything went according to plan having returned from their short honeymoon to begin married
life together. Katie came home for the first time having to deal with Jack's tablesaw still set up in her
living room. This story has been the source of much laughter and grins as a long time family joke.
This was one of the first challenges that Jack and Katie had to persevere through and overcome to
achieve success in all their endeavors together. Patience with each other, persistence, a willingness to
work hard and never quit set them on a course of achievement and living "The American Dream" together.
Jack's creative abilities to visualize a building project, draw it up on paper, make his own building plans,
submit those plans to the city for approval and then going to the jobsite and physically build some of the
most amazing homes in Douglas County and in Oregon.
He was truly a gifted man in many ways.
One of the saddest stories of Jack's past is that it turns out that Jack suffered from dyslexia, which was
not known during his childhood. Jack always struggled with reading. It was a very slow process for him
but he had amazing comprehension. Unfortunately Jack thought he was dumb as a kid. That thinking
lasted all the way through high school.
He was truly concerned that he was not going to graduate because of his reading deficiencies. He had
one particular high school teacher that saw Jack's potential and provided him with the encouragement,
support and tutoring he needed to get him through. Jack did receive his high school diploma.
The unfortunate truth is that he struggled the rest of his life on the inside thinking he was dumb and when
he did share this story with others, it brought him to tears.
Jack's story and life are amazing but when you realize that he accomplished all that he did in spite of this
struggle which has devastated the confidence of so many other people to move ahead and pursue their
dreams, Jack did NOT let this inner fight stop him. Knowing this, Jack's story goes from amazing to
"Super amazing !"
For the record, Jack Rountree was NEVER dumb !!!
Jack's building contractor career started out with him building his first small home for $5,000.00. Due to
his excellent workmanship and work ethic, over the years one housing project would lead to the next
project and which also lead to bigger and bigger projects. In the early days, Jack did almost all of the
work to put these houses together and complete them.
Jack had this to write about Katie. "She has been my constant companion who has supported and helped
me through all of my endeavors in life. She is my best friend, my helpmate, my business partner, who
has done an incredible job of keeping track of all the details that come with the construction business
throughout the years. We would not be able to enjoy the success we have had if it had not been for her
help day after day, everyday. For her I am most grateful for her commitment to me through the highs and
lows of all these years. "
Jack and Katie trusted each other and the length of their relationship proves it which allowed for Jack to
become known as Roseburg's Premier Custom Home Builder which lasted for over forty years.
The Houses that Jack built added up to over 50 custom homes in his career.
Some of his most notable homes were built for:
- The Wally and Connie Hunnicut Home
- The Bart and Camille Garrison Home
- The Paul and Dorothy Hult Home
- The Mike and Rosemary Brinkley Home
- The Bill and Lois Allen Home
- The Lowell and Pearl Paup Home (Katie's Brother and wife)
- The Lee and Pat Wimberly Home
- The Bob and Phyllis Feldkamp Home
- The Casey and Joyce Morgan Home
- The John and Suzanne Gates Home
- The Bud and Margie Johnson Home ( For his expert workmanship
Jack was the winner of the American Institute of Architects -
"Craftsmanship Award" given November 10, 1988 )
- The Ken and Bonnie Ford Home ( Jack helped to complete the finish work )
- The John and Ann Stephens Home (Overlooking a ocean cliff near Bandon, Oregon, John was
the retired president of The Roseburg Lumber Company)
- The Jack and Katie Rountree Retirement Home on the best lot overlooking West Roseburg on
Juniper Ct.
For their retirement Jack has also built seven duplexes. Sold one to finance the property
purchase of the second of two successful mini storage businesses constructed on the westside of
Roseburg Oregon, Harvard Heated Mini Storage !
I think we can now all say "WOW !!!!"
Jack was the happiest, most peaceful person when he was busy working. He loved to work. He said
many times, work for him was "play" because he enjoyed what he was doing and he enjoyed the creative
process of making something appear that did not exist before he started.
He was able to enjoy the accomplishment of a project all the way through the process. This kept him
fueled to be one of the most highly motivated and ambitious people that most of us know !
Jack was not just a building contractor. He was always committed to his homeowners being completely
satisfied with their home he had built for them. Not only did Jack build many couples' homes but because
of the kind of person he was, he often built lifelong friendships with his clients as well.
His sons, David and Mike were blessed with the opportunity to work with their dad much of their adult life.
His Grandson Tyler also got to work with Papa on a number of projects. Working together as a family
was something that Jack truly cherished.
He was NOT the typical Type "A" personality that is usually associated with such accomplishments. Jack
was special.
Jack often spoke these words to his close friends and family,
"I have been most fortunate !" He was a humble and grateful man.
Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you,
so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Jack appreciated and valued his folks to such a remarkable extent. He showed it and sacrificed his time
and money for them over and over again throughout their lives. He truly provided a living example of
what Deut 5:16 is all about. God most certainly delivered on His promises to Jack for his obedience to
God's 6th commandment.
In addition - Jack
- was so patient
- was kind to others
- was not envious of others
- did not boast about his accomplishments
- was not arrogant
- did not dishonor others
- did not seek his own agenda
(Homeowner satisfaction was always his number one goal)
- was not easily angered
- did not keep a record of wrongs that had been done to him
(There were sadly many wrongs cast his way that Jack did not deserve)
- did not like bad people or bad things happening to innocent people
- liked the straight forward truth, about everything
- protected his wife and his family
- trusted that things would work out
- never gave up hope for the future
Jack's life was made possible because of his perseverance
Jack's love for us never failed
Jack did not tell other people how to live,
Jack accepted people as they were and got along with all types of personalities
Jack had faith
Jack had hope and
Jack loved well, all those who came into his life
If this sounds familiar, it is. Jack lived out I Corinthians 13: 4-13
"The Love Chapter"
That is why we all loved him and love him still and will miss him greatly.
Jack made a proclamation of faith on May 5, 1963 when he was baptized in the Name of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit in a service at the Presbyterian Church in Roseburg.
Jack was at peace when he passed. He was not afraid to die. He knew his time was coming soon. He
did try to let our family know. We never wanted to face this day and we confidently reasoned that he
would reach 101 years old because that was his goal.
Jack's passing has been a difficult shock to our family and friends.
Jack is at home. Jesus came to him and escorted him home at about 10:30 pm Wednesday, March 27,
2024. Dave, Mike and Stephanie were in the room and witnessed his passing on.
John 3:16-17 NIV
[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through him.
By faith in the love of Christ, we look forward to seeing Jack again some day.
He is free of all the ailments that come with a 96 year old body. We imagine that Jesus and Jack are
having some interesting discussions about all the construction projects going on in heaven. We are
confident that Jack is having a great time working on the latest mansion project up on heaven's
construction docket.
Revelation 21:3-4 NIV
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people,
and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the
old order of things has passed away."
By faith we look forward to the truth of this verse coming to fruition !
Restoration with our loved ones is our future. We need only to turn our hearts towards our Creator and
Savior, Jesus. Trust in His goodness, His forgiveness and His promise of life everlasting ! This certainly
brings a quiet and confident peace to our hearts.