He was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Dawn; his parents, Annabelle and Edgar Nesbitt; two brothers, Byron and Keith; and previous wife, Wanita nee Pruitt.

As an attorney, he owned his own local law practice, served as legal representative for the Rensselaer School Corporation, and also served for a decade as patent counsel for Purdue University. Until recently, he owned and operated the Holiday Inn Express in Rensselaer.

He made numerous contributions to the Rensselaer community, serving on the park board, and he was the founder of the Jasper Foundation. Local residents will recall that for many years, he organized Riley Reads for local children on Halloween. He was a trustee of a fund from Dr. John's estate that sent local young musicians to Interlochen Arts Camp. He saved the Carnegie Library building that has become a flourishing community center that exists today. In a highly publicized case, he stopped Prudential from wasting irrigation on the Fair Oaks Farm, protecting the groundwater in that area.

He enjoyed fishing and relaxing at his summer home in Elk Rapids.

He was deeply committed to nature and the preservation of natural wildlife habitats and wetlands, establishing small preserves on properties he owned. Artworks displayed in his hotel, where he hosted touring groups during the migration of the Sand hill Cranes, reflected this interest. He posted in the hotel lobby a daily count of the cranes at the Jasper Pulaski Game Preserve along with a video of the cranes at the preserve.

He was a member of, and served as past president of, Rensselaer Rotary. Jack's father was the first elected president of Rotary in Rensselaer. Jack was also a lifetime member of Ducks Unlimited and a long-time member of First Christian Church of Rensselaer.

In lieu of sending flowers, friends are asked to make donations to the Jasper Foundation. Please specify which project you would like the funds to be used for, such as the "Rensselaer Park Community Pool Fund." Donations may also be made to a wildlife or nature preservation association of your preference.

Friends may visit the Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8. Funeral services are planned for 10:30 a.m. March 9 at First Christian Church of Rensselaer with Pastor Keith Kincaid officiating. Interment will follow at Weston Cemetery.