Obituary of John R. Ertle

Irondequoit: Uncle Jack, passed away on April 24, 2020 at the age of 89. Jack's passion was teaching and music. He taught for many years at Marshall High School, in Rochester, in the business department, until he retired. Jack also used his teaching skills during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, teaching Morse code. He was very proud of his service in the military. He continued to teach throughout the years in various ways. He volunteered to teach adult and students alike about classical music, which he was passionate about and was very knowledgeable. He had a lot of patience and he enjoyed teaching in a way that engaged his students and he also enjoyed learning new things himself. Uncle Jack also had a special bond with animals. He had two parakeets over the years and he used his teaching skills to teach both to speak. Jack was very involved in mock jury trials over the years and it gave him so much joy to be a part of that experience with the kids. He also volunteered to teach bowling to kids, another passion of his. Jack had a radio show where he would play and “teach” classical music. He loved to tell the story behind each piece he played. Mahler was his favorite composer – he even had a “Mahler” license plate. He was teaching a music class at a local high school even as his physical health was deteriorating. He will be missed by all who he touched. Jack was always a very social person and made many, many friends over the years, some of which have passed. He will be missed by his friends Marwood, Brian, Art, Charlie, Maria and Ada, all of whom were an important part of his life. Jack is survived by his sister, Patricia Church, of Ilion, with whom he shared a close bond since they lost their parents in the early 1940s. He is also survived by Patricia's children, who also enjoyed a special bond with him over the years: Carolyn “Michele” Stone and her husband Paul, of Ilion, NY, Mark Miller of Schuyler, NY, Mike Miller and his wife, Lynne of Rome, NY, Melinda Crane of Poland, NY, and Molly Reile and her husband, Ron, of Ilion, NY. Jack also had two nephews Steve Ertle of Ohio and Tom Ertle of Texas. Jack was predeceased by his parents, Earl and Carolyn Ertle and his brother, Robert Ertle. Due to current times, a memorial service will be held at a later date.