Jack Douglas Estey, age 85, of Troy, OH passed away on May 10, 2024, at the Upper Valley Medical Center.  He was born on July 10, 1938 in Troy to the late Alva G. and Martha Louise (Kaufman) Estey.

Jack is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years: Janet W. (Walker) Estey; his daughters and son-in-law: Amy J. Estey and Donna (Michael) Estey-Vild and granddaughters: Ellen Vild and Grace Vild all of Wilmington, DE; sister: Marilyn Carroll of Littleton, CO; nephew: Craig (Sue) Carroll of Lakewood, CO; niece: Ann Carroll of Seattle, WA and extended family and friends.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law: Charles B. Carroll.

Jack was a 1956 graduate of Troy High School where he played baseball, intramural sports, won a State Industrial Arts award, and played trombone in the Troy High School Band. He was a member of the National Honor Society. Upon leaving THS, he served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Jack met Janet Walker and they were married on May 16th, 1959, at Lostcreek Congregational Christian Church.

He was operator and eventual owner of the family business, Estey Excavating, for more than 60 years. He started with his father's plumbing business while still in high school and learned to run one of the first backhoes in Miami County. He started many houses in and around Troy and was able to locate old septic systems he'd put in decades prior once they needed to be replaced.

Jack served his community as a long-time Board Member of the Miami County Agricultural Society (Fair), and volunteered as an advisor to the Trojan 4-H Horse Club, and as President of the Miami County 4-H Horse Advisors. The red, white, and blue rosettes given to those 4-Hers who qualified for the Ohio State Fair were his idea as a way to recognize local achievement.  While his daughters were in high school, he helped with the inaugural production of strawberry donuts by the Troy High School Music Parents at the Troy Strawberry Festival.

Jack enjoyed playing and watching sports of all kinds.  Both he and Janet played church league softball at Nashville Park, outside West Milton and later made numerous trips to Ohio State football games and Cincinnati Reds games. While transitioning into retirement, Jack learned to play golf and enjoyed traveling to various courses to play with family and friends, and also in the Men's Golf League at Miami Shores Golf Course in Troy.  He didn't hit big long drives, but could hit straight down the middle of the fairway.

Services will be on July 5, 2024 at Baird Funeral Home in Troy.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, and the funeral service will begin at Noon. Interment will take place in Riverside Cemetery, also in Troy.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jack's memory to The American Heart Association.  Condolences may be expressed to the family through www.bairdfuneralhome.com.

American Heart Association
PO Box 840692, Dallas TX 75284-0692