John C. “Jack” Laske, 92, of St. Petersburg, died November 15, 2014 at Westminster SunCoast Nursing Home. His family was by his side.
He was born March 26, 1922 in Neenah, WI, son of the late Herbert August and Theodora Hansen Laske. He graduated from Carroll College is Wisconsin and McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and was an ordained Presbyterian Clergyman.
John married Ruth Lyter on December 26, 1943 in Milwaukee, WI. He and his family spent summers for fifty-four years at the camp on Seventh Lake.
He spenty forty-six years in active ministry, serving five congregations in New York and Ohio. While in the parish ministry he also held leadership positions on the national level of the Presbyterian Church. After retirement he was Interim Minister at Lake View Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg and First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head, SC.
He worked as Vice-President of Development and then as College Administrative Officer for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.
He was a member of the Pass-A-Grille Community Church, St. Pete Beach, FL and the Big Moose Chapel at Big Moose Lake, in the Adirondacks in NY.
John is survived by his wife Ruth of St. Petersburg, FL, a daughter and son-in-law Jacqueline and John Berry of Wilmette, IL, a son Mark T. Laske of North Creek, NY; three granddaughters Jenna Laske, Susannah Pratt and Margaret Atkins; four great grandsons John Oliver Pratt, Foster Thomas Pratt, Elliot Arthur Pratt and Nicholas Jason Pratt; two great granddaughters Jasmine Mia Cartwright-Atkins and Ashleigh Imari Cartwright, a daughter-in-law Patricia English and her husband Larry.
He was predeceased by a son Thomas H. Laske and a son-in-law Arthur Foster Quern, III.
Details of a memorial service are yet to be decided.
The family asks that memorial gifts be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are with Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds, Old Forge, NY
