John Cochrane, III
d. January 15, 2017
John D. Cochrane III (Jack) turned 90 on Nov. 12, 2016 and passed away on January 15, 2017 after a brief illness. He lived a long and full life. They broke the mold when Jack Cochrane came into the world and heaven is bracing for his entry!
He was born in Wyoming, OH to John D. Cochrane Jr. and Frances Earl Cochrane. As a teenager, his nickname was Pretzel because he was so thin. He exceled in basketball and tennis. He achieved the rank of Life in Boy Scouts. He stayed active as a leader (Uncle Jack), experienced Philmont and several other High Adventures. His “Knot Head” Scouts really knew their knots!
He served in the Army at the Presidio in California where he typed court martial papers for General Stillwell. He attended Purdue University where he got a degree in Chemical Engineering. While at Purdue, he met his wife, Marie, on the tennis courts. They married 65 years ago on June 30, 1951.
Jack worked for Hercules Powder Company and Hoover Ball Bearing in early plastic industry sales. He operated several entrepreneurial endeavors later in his working career. Their children, John, Barb and Mary Ann, where born in New Jersey. They built their family home in Ann Arbor, MI in 1965 and were blessed to have amazing neighbors and friends for 50 years. They had wintered many years in the Jacksonville area with their daughter Barb and in 2015 they moved to Fleet Landing, a continuing care retirement community.
Clear Lake, Indiana was a special place for Jack. He was heavily involved in the sailing program there. He enjoyed fishing, playing tennis and playing golf – with a new putter and/or putting stroke each year. Less than 1 year ago, Jack was still riding his tricycle up to 9 miles a day at Fleet Landing.
Jack was the king of “putzing” – no product was complete without Jack’s improvements. He and Chuck Single invented The Squeezer™, a male incontinence device that is comfortable to wear, that is now sold commercially.
Jack is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marie Cochrane, and their children (and spouses): John (Tammy) Cochrane of Hiram OH, Barb Wenger (Klaus) of Ponte Vedra Beach FL, Mary Ann Gardner (Mark) of Dunwoody GA, nine grandchildren and two great grandchild. Several beloved dachshunds predeceased Jack, most recently Trina.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jack Cochrane’s name to the Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy, 111 Gecowets Drive, Fremont, IN 46737 or the Boy Scouts of America, Huron Trails District, 3914 Bestech Drive, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.