Rev. Dr. Jack Seville Jr.

Rev. Dr. Jack J. Seville Jr., age 81, passed away on Saturday December 21, 2019 at Bethel Home in Oshkosh. Jack was born on May 18, 1938 to the late Jack and Deborah (Smith) Seville Sr. in Hagerstown Maryland. Jack married Fanny Lee Selser in 1958 in Hagerstown.
Jack attended Hagerstown Community College where he obtained his A.A. degree and later attended Franklin and Marshall College where he obtained his B.A. degree in History. He went on to study at Lancaster Theological Seminary where he was awarded the Spessard Prize in Christology and received his Master of Sacred Theology degree. He was a United Church of Christ ordained pastor. During his career he served as a local church minister, taught New Testament Greek, and was a faithful servant of the church. He also served the UCC in many administrative roles including working 12 years as Conference Minister for the Northern Plains Conference serving churches in North Dakota, Manitoba and Alberta, Canada. His ministry touched the lives of many, including a sincere gesture bestowing Jack the honor of a Chieftain's Headdress and naming him Honorary Chief for "giving so lovingly, innate qualities of Indian-like leadership." After 9-11 Jack served as a crisis counselor, traveling from Virginia to Connecticut, ministering to those who lost loved ones during the attack.
Jack had a compassionate heart, a disciplined mind and was often referred to as a "gentle genius." He was an imaginative storyteller and published author, who loved singing, performing on stage, listening to music, watching baseball, and spending time with friends and family, especially his grandsons.
Jack is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Fanny Lee (Selser) Seville; son James Seville of St. Louis, MO; daughter, Jaci Cooper and her husband, Sheldon of Oshkosh; son Paul Seville of Sioux Falls, S.D.; he is further survived by his sister-in-law Pat (Leslie) Seville of Hagerstown, MD; grandchildren Payton and Braden Cooper of Oshkosh; and David Willy-Seville of Rolla, MO.
Jack was preceded in death by his brother Leslie Seville.
A Celebration of Life service will be held by the family at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 137 Algoma Blvd. in Oshkosh on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
Special thanks to the marvelous staff of Bethel Home who made his final days comfortable and safe. Special thanks also to Aurora at Home HospiceCare.
The family requests the omission of flowers; memorial donations may be made to Aurora at Home HospiceCare.