Jack Harve ("Coach") Stonestreet

Born in Pratt, Kansas to Marjorie and Clyde “Stoney” Stonestreet

Jack was raised in Wichita, Kansas with his brother, Philip, and sister Lynda. Jack was a three-sport athlete at Wichita North High and accepted a scholarship to play baseball at Kansas University.  Jack was a “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” for life.  It was in college that Jack met the love of his life, Janice Helen Perry, whom he married on June 28, 1953.  He was drafted by both the USAF and Pittsburgh Pirates after graduation, and chose to serve 3 years pitching on the Air Force baseball team, then reporting to the Pirates.  His minor league claim to fame, was that he once struck out Hank Aaron!  Jack and Janice had three children, Mark, Cheryl and Jeff.  Job opportunities took them to Seattle in 1961, later moving to Tacoma, and finally settling in Gig Harbor.

Jack’s professional career included working as an insurance salesman before he became the local manager for Traveler’s Insurance.  He also started officiating high school and college football and basketball games.  In 1970 the family moved to Gig harbor, where Jack joined the Gig Harbor Golf Course and played regularly. 

“Coach” came into his own when he retired in 1989, to concentrate on his many passions.  Jack was a good-natured guy who befriended everyone he met.  He volunteered as a coach for Business Week, taught part time at TCC, became very active in the local rotary association, enjoyed time with his 6 grandchildren and participated in the Harbor Holidays parade by leading the “Sheep Ship” float with his toilet plunger baton.  Jack started a tradition of Mariners’ Spring Training trips every March, writing articles for the Peninsula Gateway.  He also continued his officiating career, adding softball and volleyball along with the basketball and football.  In 2019 he was elected to the Pierce County sports hall of fame in honor of 60 years of officiating. 

Jack enjoyed decades of biannual trips with his family to Maui and coined “Gramp’s Camp” as his beach to take his beloved grandchildren.

Jack survived a major heart attack in 2016, and was thankful for the last four years as he got to enjoy time with his seven great grandchildren and was able to continue his Tuesday morning breakfast at Tower Lanes with the Bro’s. 

He is survived by his wife, Janice and his 3 children and their spouses, Mark (Lynn), Cheryl (Terry), Jeff (Nan), 6 grandchildren, Marci (Kerry), Staci (Scott), Tyler (Kara), Lauren, Kelsey (Grant) and Nathan, and 7.5 great grandchildren, Sadie, Tinley, Colin, Cade, Landon, Parker, Eleanor, and soon-to-be, Jackson.

Thanks to Dr Leverett, and the cardiac unit at St Anthony’s for their compassionate care.

A celebration of Jack’s life will be held at the Gig Harbor Golf Course this summer and will be announced at a later date. 

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