On November 11, 2023, John Jake Thomas Jura Jr., 86, of Schertz, Texas, passed away peacefully at home with family members at his side.
John joined the Air Force in 1956 and later met and married Jean Prouty in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1960. After serving in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Bronze Star, John was stationed at Randolph AFB. He and Jean fell in love with the San Antonio area and vowed to return after John retired. They moved to Schertz in 1977 when John retired from the Air Force. John worked in civil service at Wilford Hall, and when he retired from civil service, he was a school crossing guard for a couple of Schertz elementary schools for several years.
John’s hobbies included organic gardening, lapidary, coin and stamp collecting, and fossil hunting. He and Jean had a hands-on fossil exhibit for children, and he delighted in volunteering with Dinosaur George at various places including the Witte Museum. He was interested in archeology, so he loved visiting various sites during the two years he was stationed in Turkey with his family. John also enjoyed attending mass at Good Shepherd Catholic Church and building his relationship with God.
John was preceded in death by his father, John Jake Thomas Jura Sr., his mother, Anna Jura, and his three brothers, Jim Jura, Ray Jura, and Roland Anderson.
John is survived by Jean, his wife of 63 years, their children, Michael, Michele and her husband Scott Leibowitz, Bryan and his wife Christine, and Steven and partner Yolie Snider; five grandchildren, Kimberly, Matthew, Zachary, Emily, and Shawna; and four great grandchildren, Forrest, Karsen, Mason, and Margo. Another great grandson is expected soon. He is also survived by his sister, Judy Bateman.
He was known and loved by many and will be sincerely missed.
Please join us in celebrating his life at the Schertz Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, November 26, 2023, with a rosary at 7 p.m. Services will be on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, and burial will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:15 p.m.
