John “Jack” Rexford, age 85, passed peacefully from this world into the presence of his heavenly father on Friday, February 14, 2025. Jack married Martha Douma on October 21, 1960. Martha was the love of his life, and they celebrated 64 years of marriage together. Their children are Mike (Angela) Rexford of Columbia, South Carolina; Heidi (Tim) Telling of Blaine, Washington; and Shelly (Steve) Berkompas of Custer, WA. His grandchildren are Lacey (Todd) Postma, Derrek (Ali) Telling, Jonathan (Heather) Rexford, Brandon Berkompas, Zach (Heather) Berkompas, Benjamin (Lauren) Rexford, and Joshua (Cindy) Telling. There are 15 great-grandkids and one more on the way.

Jack was a faithful, loving husband and committed family man. Every year as soon as school let out for the summer, he and Martha would pack up the kids and take a weeklong vacation. Many National Parks were explored, lakes fished, and museums visited. Saturdays often involved hauling wood home from the river bar for the winter wood supply. We often managed to fit in a picnic lunch and some target practice while we were at the river. He loved fishing and hunting, spending many hours up at Silverlake or east of the Mountains looking for trout or driving the mountain roads looking for grouse. He also loved to go rabbit hunting with his much-loved beagles (his dog Annie was his favorite). Jack loved the Lord and was always looking for opportunities to strike up a conversation with a stranger and eventually get around to asking them if they knew Jesus. He didn’t get to know the Lord until he was an adult, so he was very aware of what life was like without a personal faith in God. It was very important to him that his children grew up with a Christian foundation, so he made church a priority and a Bible story was read most evening after dinner around the table.

Jack spent years as a welding supply salesman and then completed his career doing outside sales for an automotive supply company. Martha retired from the Christian Health Care Center in Lynden after 23 years.

They enjoyed camping and fishing together, garage sailing, working out in the yard, going out to meals with friends, and fellowshipping with their church family.

The family will be holding a memorial service in early May at Wiser Lake Chapel in Lynden. We will notify everyone of the date of the service on Facebook.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.