Jack Sokoff, 71

Jack Sokoff, 71, of Mountain Home, died after a battle with cancer at St. Alphonsus hospital, Thursday, May 27, surrounded by his loving family.

At Jack's request, there will be no service at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Jack was born in Kingston, W. Va., on Aug. 3, 1932. His childhood was spent in West Virginia until enlisting in the Navy in 1952.

He served 20 years as an airplane mechanic and flight engineer and was honored to serve his country, his family noted.

He retired in 1972 from the Navy and started working for McClellen AFB in California.

In 1978, he married his wife, Eileen, and from this he merged his children from a former union and Eileen's children and formed an extended family.

In 1989 Jack and Eileen moved to Mountain Home after living in California, Iran, Arabia, and Washington, working for various airline companies. He then worked reconstructing homes for resale.

"The love he had for fishing and hunting was the reason he loved his beautiful Idaho," his family said. "Jack enjoyed just being in the outdoors with his wife and his dog, Sugar. Working in his yard was a great past-time for Jack, he loved helping things grow."

Jack is survived by: his wife, Eileen; children Rick (Julie) Sokoff of Tracy, Calif.; Susan Sokoff of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Bryan Sokoff of Albuquerque, N.M.; step-children Chris Atwood of Elko, Nev.; Terri (Tom) Harbison of Hagerman; Mickey Martinez of Santa Clara, Calif.; Dan (Delilah) Atwood of Boise; nine grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; two sisters, Jane (Charles) Collins of San Diego, Calif., and Mary (Ralph) Bowling; two brothers, Tom (Gunilla) Sokoff of Chula Vista, Calif.; and Bill Sokoff of Austin, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and one sister.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to either the Cancer Society or a charity of their choice.