Jack Arthur Savlan passed away peacefully at home on July 15th, 2024 age 70. He was born on April 14th to James and Frances (nee Hyman) Savlan. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, LaRee (nee Looney). Beloved brother to Cathy Nichols and Jeanne (Steve) Gadol. Loving uncle of Kelly (Mark) Silvers and great uncle of Andrew Silvers and Ashley (Jacob) Darsow.

"Smiling" Jack was an inspiration to all who knew him. He grew up in Los Angles, California where his Grandparents on his Mother's side, were founding members of the Hillcrest Country Club. His Grandfather's locker was next to Groucho Marx and near George Burns and Danny Thomas. Jack had a lifelong interest in Space Exploration because his Father worked at Rocketdyne in the San Fernando Valley. In the mid-1960's rocket engines were being developed for the Saturn and Apollo projects. Jack had several lifelong friends whom he met during grade school. Eric (Ricky) met Jack at 4 years old, when Ricky's family moved into the house across the street. Jack regularly kept in touch with his other grade school friends, Jay, Allan, and Don. He graduated from El Camino Real High School in 1972. Another lifelong friend Dave, shared a house with him when he attended Humboldt State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts in 1976. He spent the Summer working for the U.S. Forest Service at Diamond Lake, Oregon maintaining campgrounds. In 1977, he took a seasonal position with the U.S. Forest Service on the Umpqua National Forest in Tiller, Oregon. It was here that he found his love for surveying, working with a land surveying crew. In Tiller, he met his future wife, LaRee, who was a seasonal firefighter for the Forest Service in a "Helitack" helicopter crew. Jack liked working with the surveying crew so much that he decided to enroll at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He graduated from OIT in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with a Surveying emphasis. As a student, he spent one Summer surveying in the Yukon Flats, in Alaska. His first job as a surveyor was for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) working on the Navajo Nation Cadastral Surveying project. The Navajo Nation is located within Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. In 1982, most of those lands had never had a Cadastral Survey. The BLM, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Navajo Nation worked together and succeeded in this monumental effort. A plaque commemorating the early years of the project office is displayed outside of the Navajo Nation Council in Window Rock, Arizona. Jack worked on this project for 2 1/2 years before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico and continuing to work as a BLM surveyor there. Remaining friends throughout all the years, Jack and LaRee were married in 1993. Shortly after they were married, Jack was diagnosed with Stage III non-hodgkin's lymphoma and underwent successful chemotherapy. They moved to Silver City, NM where LaRee worked as an RN, while Jack worked as a surveyor in private practice. Shortly afterwards, he took a position as a surveyor for the U.S. Forest service there. Jack received a promotion to the Eastern Region, Region 9, located in downtown Milwaukee, WI in 2010. He worked as a Regional Surveyor supporting federal and non-federal lands spread across a 20 state geographic area. It was during his stressful working career that Jack took up pipe smoking and collecting as a hobby. He spent many pleasurable moments reflecting on life with his pipe club member friends. Jack retired in 2016, after 34 years in federal service. During retirement, he continued with many hobbies such as collecting and fixing antique radios (they all worked), collecting railroad photography and art, and physical fitness. Jack and LaRee spent many years backpacking in the forests and wilderness areas of New Mexico and Arizona. They both loved trains, often taking Amtrak, instead of flying. Many conferences were attended through the National Railway Historical Society. Bicycling to "Chill on the Hill" concerts in Humboldt Park was a summer highlight. Traveling to Hawaii, Tahiti, St. Thomas and St. John, New Zealand, and the Bahamas were memorable. In 2015, Jack discovered Cream City CrossFit Co-op gym and was hooked. Winters in Wisconsin can be challenging and the camaraderie, and commitment kept him happy, healthy and strong enough to battle his diagnosis of Sage IV cancer that had already metastasized to his bones in November of 2021. He was forever a gentleman and a scholar, and an inspiration to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed.

Memorial Service Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 12:30PM at Bay View Chapel. Memorial Gathering to follow. Inurnment at Woodlawn Cemetery at 2PM following.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Park People of Milwaukee County towards a bench at Bay View Park in Jack's memory. Email director@parkpeoplemke.org to donate.