Service celebrating philanthropist’s life will be Saturday

EVERETT — Few, if any, people have given more money to civic institutions in Everett than John and Idamae Schack.

But until John Schack’s death Sunday of natural causes at age 95, most people didn’t know who he was.

He wanted it that way, said his son, Jim Schack. His father would have been embarrassed by all the talk of his generosity, said Jim Schack, who declined to reveal how much money his father gave to local organizations.

"He thinks someone who contributes $5 to an enterprise is just as important as someone who contributes $1 million," Schack said as he was making arrangements Tuesday for a Saturday memorial service at Immaculate Conception Church.

"Someone who contributed time and energy or swept up the church at night or baked cookies were the real heroes in his mind."

That’s why many of the donations from John and Idamae Schack were anonymous.

"He didn’t want to draw attention to himself," said Schack, who lives in Kent. "He was a doer, a builder, a maker, a developer. He wasn’t a self-congratulatory type."

He was also someone who closely followed each organization that he donated to, reading reports and following their progress, Schack said.

He said his father "got as much or more from his philanthropic efforts as he gave. He took energy from them. After all, he lived to be 95. He enjoyed life, and he enjoyed challenges, and he enjoyed people who stepped up to challenges, whether it be in business, church, community or family."

John Schack passed on his values to his children and those around him, Jim Schack said.

"He set a good example," he said. "He was honest and ethical and compassionate, but he also expected accountability. And he had an incredibly good sense of humor, and he used it often."

Patty DeGroodt of Mill Creek said her stepfather was someone to look up to.

"He was a great role model for all of us," she said. "He always did what he said he would do, and said that when you make a commitment, you follow through on it. He wanted us to be like that. We felt blessed by having him in our life."

Like any father, John Schack sometimes disagreed with his children and stepchildren. But his approach was to have calm conversations rather than arguments, DeGroodt said.

"He loved, nurtured and respected us," she said. "He was a wonderful, kind man."

Schack’s widow, Idamae, said her husband was a gentle man.

"I’ve never seen him punish a child," she said from her Everett home Tuesday. "I’ve never seen him raise a voice to a child. There was a gentleness and love he had for all of us, and it was special."

John Schack was born in Seattle on April 20, 1909, and moved to Everett in 1978.

In addition to Idamae, Jim and Patricia, John Schack is survived by children Margaret Schack Davis and Ellen Schack Harley, and stepchildren Frank Miles, Edith Miles Woll and Alice Miles Erickson. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John Schack’s first wife, Margaret Lobdell, died in 1964. He married Idamae Miles on July 6, 1966.

A service to celebrate Schack’s life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church, 2501 Hoyt Ave.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Children’s Museum in Snohomish County, 3013 Colby Ave., Everett, WA 98201, or the Greater Everett Community Foundation, P.O. Box 5549, Everett, WA 98201. Sympathy cards may be sent to Purdy and Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home, 1702 Pacific Ave., Everett, WA 98201.

Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com.

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