Ira "Jack" Dodd went home to be with the Lord on August 17th, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth ("Sue"), and their daughter, Beth.

He is survived by Beth's husband Roy, his daughter Melanie (Mike), his son Kevin (Teri), and his sister Janet (Merle). He also leaves a legacy of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren, whom he was always glad to tell people about.

Jack was a faithful son, brother, uncle, husband, dad, grandpa, and friend. He had humble beginnings on a farm in southeast Missouri, where he began working, driving tractors, running cotton pickers, doing FFA, and all things farm related. His real adventures started, though, after he finished his stint with the Air Force (where he thought he'd see the world, but only made it to Texas and Idaho), and met and married Sue. This launched a multi-state, and multi-country, life of working for the DoD that allowed him and his family to see countless sights around the world, as he continued to work his way up in the organization. Fittingly, because of his strong work ethic and superb operational skills, he retired as global chief of that same organization.

Those weren't his only strengths though. Jack was always on the front lines of helping family and friends whenever he was able, which seemed to be often. He earned the moniker "Jack of All Trades", because he was on hand for helping with moves, solving house or mechanical issues, or, one of his favorites, making sure
grandkids were taken care of – whether transporting to sporting events, tucking them in during stays at his house, or just telling stories. "Pop-Pop" loved his family, and the feeling was mutual; he was adored.

That feeling generally extended to almost everyone he encountered. His doctor even nicknamed him "Smilin' Jack", because he tended to brighten peoples' day wherever he was – the store, coffee shop, gas station, even the hospital!

We are grateful for much of the care he received in his last days, particularly the kindness and comfort provided by the staff of Everhome Hospice.

He will be greatly missed by his family and by friends both old and new. But we also rejoice, because he is in a place of perfect peace and comfort with our perfect, all-sufficient, loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jack's memory to Honor Flight: https://www.honorflight.org/donate/

Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services of Springfield, MO.