Trust the Torch!

Jack C. Merwin

Jack C. Merwin

Jack C. Merwin, 92, of Grand Junction, Colo., a native of Woodstock, died July 2, 2018.

Jack was born in Woodstock to Clifford L. Merwin and Helen M. Boyce on July 9, 1925. He graduated from Woodstock Community High School in 1943. He and Betty Dunning of Woodstock married in February 1945 while he was on leave from the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Illinois, Champaign, in 1954. His first work as a college professor was at Syracuse University. He was also a professor in the School of Education at the University of Minnesota for 36 years, seven of those  as dean of the school. He mentored and advised many American and international Ph.D. graduate students.

In 1974 he was honored to be among the first American educators to visit and work with teachers in the Peoples Republic of China and continued to work on joint international projects with the University of Beijing. During his tenure at the University of Minnesota, he was a co-author of the Stanford Achievement Test. Upon retirement, Jack created the Merwin Chair for Education at the University of Minnesota School of Education.

Jack was a veteran of World War II, having served as a navigator in the Army Air Corps on B-17s, and in the US. Air Force Reserve, earning the rank of major.

He spent his retirement years volunteering at multiple charitable organizations. Helping at Alzheimer’s facilities became his favorite volunteer work in his later years right up until the week before he died.

Jack is survived by daughter, Margaret “Peg” (Creighton) Wood, of Norwood, Colo.; a brother, Ken (Glennie ) Merwin, of Lake Barrington; a granddaughter, Kory (Daniel  II) Ewing, of Nampa, Idaho; and a great-grandson, Daniel Ewing III, of Boise, Idaho.

Jack was preceded in death by an older brother, Jim Merwin; a sister, Marilyn Freeman; his first wife, Betty D. Merwin; a daughter, Darcy Newham; and his second wife, Dorothy M. Merwin.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Commons Retirement Center in Grand Junction, Colo., with the Rev. Sherrill Peterson officiating. Burial will be in the fall at Oakland Cemetery, Woodstock.

Memorials may be given to the American Red Cross; Hope West Hospice of Grand Junction, Colo.; and to the Food Bank of the Rockies.

Jack C. Merwin

Woodstock's most trusted news source. Period.

Keep Exploring

Subscriber Access

Login