John A. Doruff

Jack "John A." Doruff, 71, Green Bay, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 20, 2014, at his cabin at Stager Lake in Crystal Falls, MI.
He was born on November 11, 1942, in Chicago, IL, to the late John S. & Marie Doruff.

Jack was a graduate of St. Daniel the Prophet Elementary, attended St. Phillip's High School and graduated from Kelly High School, all in Chicago, Illinois.

After moving with his family to Northern Minnesota, he attended a year of college at Bemidji State College and in 1962 he joined the army. He was then trained to be a linguistic interpreter at the Presidio on the Monterey Peninsula. He spent much of his military time in Germany interpreting codes used by the Russian army.

Jack began his next adventure at the University of Minnesota, where he studied and obtained a Master of Education Degree. After graduation he taught Education students at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

His next decision was to move back to the Wisconsin area where he pursued a teaching position in Corrections. He joined Corrections at Gordon near Minong, WI. Once he began teaching at the Minimum Security Prison there he found himself ministering to the prisoners who had no one to believe in them. This made a great impact on how they looked at themselves and their future. During this time Jack and Mary met and married at Garmish located just outside Cable, WI.

In 1999 Jack was promoted to Education Director of Minimum Security Prisons, (Headquartered in Black River Falls).

This position took him to each prison where he was available to help with any questions or problems that prison's education department might have. In 2003 Jack was transferred to the Green Bay Correctional Institution to be the Education Director.

At the Green Bay facility he continued his passion to help teachers and prisoners. He maintained that position until 2012, when he retired. After retirement he continued helping prisoners by being a part of a program called Challenges and Possibility.

His retirement, of course, gave him more leisure time, time he could enjoy being at his lake cabin. Jack also very much enjoyed traveling. Even during his working years, his vacation time was focused on planning and enjoying many sites in the U.S. and Mexico. He often planned trips that included spending time with his step family. He wanted to make sure Mary had a chance to spent time with them. Just before he passed he was in the midst of planning a new vacation which included a cruise.

Jack's step sons Greg and Mark were visiting from Washington State at the time of his death. We all travelled to his favorite spot, our cabin on Stager Lake. Mark was with him in the kitchen when he fell to the floor. He called for help and Greg and Mark gave him CPR until the EMS group arrived. They could not revive him. It was and is such a blessing to have had them there, not sure how things would be for me if they hadn't been with us at the cabin.

I am not sure what it was God needed of him, but it must have been of great importance.

Jack, I am certain, is happy knowing all of his family will be at the celebration of his life.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents.

Jack was GREATLY loved and will be GREATLY missed by his wife Mary: his stepchildren Greg Butcher (Sharon), Jennifer Butcher, (John), and Mark Butcher (Tracy); 7 step grandchildren: 6 step great grandchildren; sister Joyce Popkin (Stu), sister Sandy Scharlemann, brother Jim Doruff (Sandy), sister Mary Doruff; 3 nephews and one niece.

Visitation will be held from 9:30am until 11:00am on Friday, August 1, 2014 at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, Green Bay. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am at the church with Bishop Robert Morneau officiating and Rev. James P. Neilson, O.Praem. concelebrating. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.NewcomerGreenBay.com