Long-time educator and teacher, Jack Franklin Sanders, 85, of Eagle Lake, Edwardsburg died at 10:35 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 at the family homestead surrounded by his children and grandchildren.  Known > as Sanders Landing, the land at the northwest corner of Eagle Lake at Oak Springs Road has been owned since 1865 by six generations of the Sanders family.

For almost 40 years, Sanders was an elementary school educator, teaching in Lakewood, Ca., Edwardsburg and many years in Elkhart Community Schools, primarily at Riverview and Woodland elementaries. In the 1970s, he was a principal at Lincoln and Ullery elementary schools.

He was born on Dec. 4, 1925 in South Bend to Lyle and Doris (Rinker) Sanders. One day later, his mother passed away from pneumonia. For the first seven years, he was raised by his aunt, Catherine (Katie) Sanders, then he lived with his father and new wife Nellie Friemund.

Jack married Peggy Ann Smith on Sept. 2, 1956, in Yuma, Ariz. and they celebrated 53 loving years together before she preceded him in death earlier this year on Feb. 11.

He is survived by his sister, June (Mart) Ferguson, Grand Rapids, Mich.; and a niece, Julie (David) Baldwin and nephew, Michael (Sharon) Ferguson, Portland, Ore. Also surviving are five children: Carole Kay Van Dam, of Kalamazoo, from a previous marriage; Susan (David) Jefferson, Tarzana, Ca.; Sally A. Sanders, St. Paul, Minn.; and twins, William (Nancy) Sanders of Elkhart and Charles Sanders of Wadena, Minn.

He was especially proud of his six grandchildren: Joseph Slayton and Jenna Sanders of Elkhart; Kira and itty-bitty buddy Jonathan Jefferson of Tarzana; Jody Dauphinais of Kalamazoo, and Cheri (Todd) Shorb, of Sandusky, Ohio. There are five great-grandchildren: headed by Jacob, another favorite fishing buddy, and Madyson, Paityn, Parker and Ava.

Jack was a 1943 graduate of Edwardsburg High School and hosted many class reunions at his home throughout the years.

In 1942, at 17, Jack enlisted in the Navy with his father’s permission. He served as a sonarman, third, on the USS Blue, which was in Tokyo Bay at the signing of the surrender. He reenlisted in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego until 1950 when he was honorably-discharged. He remained a lifetime member in both the American Legion and the VFW Post, both in Edwardsburg.

In California, he attended and graduated from Long Beach State University in 1955 and later returned to Edwardsburg and earned his master’s and administrative degrees from Western Michigan University in 1962 and 1970, respectively.

In the mid-1960’s, Riverview Elementary won several city football and basketball championships coached by Sanders (football) and fellow teacher and friend Jerry Wright (basketball).

After retiring from his long career in public schools, Jack continued his love of education by working part-time at the Dowagiac Adult Continuing Education Program. He was awarded educator of the year from that organization.

Fishing was his ultimate love and he hosted many a winter Thursday luncheon at his “Bear’s Den” garage, where fish cleaning, cribbage and euchre games and tall and long-winded stories abounded. He celebrated his 85th birthday with more than 30 friends in that very garage just a few days ago.

In the past two years, Jack spearheaded creation of a new non-profit organization, Veterans Helping Veterans, organized by members of the VFW post to aid returning veterans and their families.

There will be a visitation from noon to 2 p.m. at the Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home, 700 East Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, Monday, Dec. 27 with a service at 2 p.m. Pastor Ed Slate, Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, will officiate.

A Celebration of Life will continue from 4 to 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 365, located at 25751 U.S. Highway 12 in Edwardsburg.

Memorials may be given to Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107.