Jack H. Samuelson

December 3, 1933 - December 27, 2017

Jack Herman Samuelson, 84, of Heritage Park, formerly of Bemus Point passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 with his daughter Karen by his side. Jack was born on December 2, 1933 at his family’s homestead in Jamestown, NY to the late Herman and Signe Johnson Samuelson. Jack has been a member of the Bemus Point United Methodist Church since 1952, New Beginnings, Ellery Center Senior Citizens and the Vikings. Jack graduated from Bemus Central in 1952 where he played basketball and excelled at baseball and football. Upon graduating from high school, Jack joined the Air Force in 1952. Mid-1953 he was assigned to the 603rd AC&W Squadron and was shipped out on the Troopship “The Alexander Patch” for a three (3) year tour in Germany. In 1956 he was rotated back to the United States; he completed his service with the Air Force in 1960 after serving eight (8) years. During his deployment he traveled to Portugal, Sweden, and the Swiss Alps. On August 24, 1957, he married Hannah Genoa Lawson in Falconer, NY. Soon after, Jack enrolled at Alfred Ag & Tech and graduated in 1959 with an Associates Degree in Agriculture Business. After working at Chevron Chemical Co. in Sodus, NY for six (6) years, in 1970 he relo-cated his family to Bemus Point. In 1972 he started working for the Bemus Point Cen-tral School system in the building and grounds maintenance department and after 27 years with the school system, he retired in January 1999. Jack also worked for 19 years at the Bemus Point United Methodist Church as their custodian. Jack was a lover of nature and the outdoors. You could catch him walking or riding his bike to Bemus, cross country skiing, taking a hike through the woods to his parents house with his dog Rusty by his side, just saying “hi” to everyone he passed or taking a nap after work in his hammock. He enjoyed many picnics with family and friends at the Vikings on the lake and was an avid reader of a good history book. Jack was always a fixture in the stands at MG football, basketball or baseball games. He recognized the importance sports played in the building of one’s character and the importance of good sportsmanship. In 1990 he and Hannah took a trip to Sweden to visit his relatives and his father’s home town with side trips to Norway and Finland. They also traveled to Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Caribbean and to numerous designations in the United States for reunions with the 603rd AC&W Squadron. Most of all Jack will be remembered as a devoted and loving son, husband, father, grandfather and brother. He is survived by his five (5) daughters: Deborah (William R. III) Reynolds of Bemus Point, NY; Karen Samuelson of Lakewood, NY; Diane (Law-rence) Verry of Chula Vista, CA; Susann (late David) DelBalso of Syracuse, NY; and Sherri (Bradley) Tedquist of Penrose, CO. He is also survived by is grandchildren: Sa-rah, Jenny, William R. IV and Alexander Reynolds; Kyler and Chase Heartstedt; Jo-seph DelBalso and Kate Tedquist. His siblings: Elsie (late James) Samuelson; Lois (Gene) Schauman; Carl (Phyllis) Samuelson and Brian (Phyllis) Samuelson; numer-ous cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Hannah Genoa Samuelson on March 1, 2017; his parents to whom he was particularly devoted to and caring for them during the later stages of their lives, son-in-law David DelBalso, and numerous family members. Services will be held at a later date.