Jack Charles Valiquette, age 97, peacefully left this world on Sunday, January 8, 2023 with his two daughters, Sharon and Deb, by his side. He was born on February 4, 1925 in Toledo, Ohio to Elsie Mae Terwilliger and George Washington Valiquette. He grew up in Toledo with his three older siblings: sister, Kathleen; and brothers, George and Bill.
Living through the depression made him very frugal. He would trade buttons for candy at the corner store because they had no money. Jack said, “I started selling newspapers on a main street corner. At that time papers sold for 2 cents each and I made a big profit of ½ cent. I saved enough money from this to buy a paper route and bike by the time I was 11. Some weeks I brought in more money than my father was able to make.” He always said his family didn’t have much money but were rich with love. He had a very happy childhood riding bikes, playing baseball and just making their own fun.
When Jack was in the 6th grade he met the prettiest girl at a Halloween party, her name was Betty Jane and he never forgot her. Life went on and he was always a hard worker, selling newspapers, working as a bag boy and stocking shelves in a mom & pop store. He often told his favorite stories of when he was a soda jerk at his brother’s drug store.
After high school, Jack enlisted in the Army Air Corp where he served his country proudly during WWII as a bombardier navigator, flying in B-17’s and B-25’s. He spent his service in the European Theater. Second Lieutenant Valiquette was awarded The Air Medal “for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as a navigator of a B-25 type aircraft during an attack upon military objectives at Vipiteno, Italy on March 14, 1945. Lieutenant Valiquette’s proficiency in combat reflects upon himself and the military service of the United States”. During this time, that pretty little girl from the Halloween party in 6th grade started to write to him. After the war, Jack married his sweetheart, Betty Jane Suprise, on June 12, 1946.
He attended the University of Toledo on the GI Bill, getting his chemical engineering degree in 3 years. After graduation, he went to work for Brush Beryllium for 3 years, then to Libby Owens Ford, moving his family to Parkersburg, West Virginia. Two years later he got a chemical engineering job for Brush Beryllium and moved back to Elmore, Ohio where he was employed until 1969. During this time, Jack and Betty had two daughters, Sharon in 1953 and Debra in 1956. In 1967-1968, he was working with Sterns Rogers in Denver to design a beryllium plant that would be built in Delta, Utah. In June of 1969, he brought his family to Delta, Utah to start up Brush Beryllium Company which would later be named Brush Wellman and currently Materion. Jack worked for 45 years for Brush, making friendships to this day. He retired in 1990, but did consulting work for seven more years.
Jack moved his sweetheart to St. George enjoying the warm weather, musical entertainment and as to not be too far from family. In 2016, they moved back to Delta where he lost his sweetheart of 70 years on June 28, 2016. He continued to stay close with his daughters and their families. Sharon would cook, and Deb would clean for him. He spent the last few years getting to know his great grandchildren better and connecting with family, waiting for the opportunity to visit his “pretty girl” once again. Being able to help our dad was an honor and privilege. We are missing you more than words can express. We love you dad.
Survived by daughters: Sharon (Forrest) Roper and Deb (Tony) Anderson; grandkids: Jason (Stacey), Tyler, Luke (Jody), Carrie (Casey) and Jamie (Luke); great grandkids: Chris, Clay, Jordan, Bailey, Wyatt, Maddie, Mason, Ty, Zoe, Hadley, Peyton, Carter, Rhyder, Tailyn, Maylee; great-great grandkids: Scarlett, Kodak and Lennyx. Preceded in death by wife: Betty; mother: Elsie; father: George; brothers: George and Bill; and sister: Kathleen.
Special thanks to Mark “Twitter” Watson, Joe Morris, Richard Lovell, Deb Wagner, Dave & Kathleen Noah, Bonnie, and Dan. Dad thought so much of you and loved your visits. Thank you to Millard Care and Rehab, you took such good care of dad, and we appreciate all you have lovingly done for him. And a special thank you to Luis “Lou”, you are a gentle soul and dad loved you.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 14, at 11:00am, at the Nickle Mortuary, 190 S. Center St. A Viewing will be held 9:30-10:40am, prior to the service. Friends unable to attend are invited to view the recorded video of the service. Burial in the Deseret Cemetery.