Jack Lenhard Neureuter passed away Saturday, January 25, 2025. He was 88.
The second of three children of Harry and Emily (née Spellman) Neureuter, Jack was born January 10, 1937, in Buffalo, New York, where he went to Lindbergh Elementary School and Kenmore High School. He attended Hobart College (now Hobart and William Smith Colleges) in Geneva, New York, taking a break in the middle to serve in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Paris, France. Upon returning from Europe, Jack graduated Hobart in 1960, then donned his salesman’s hat and headed west to San Francisco.
There in the fog of the Outer Sunset, Jack met Michele Henderson; they married and had two children, Joffrey and Megan, though in the early 70s they divorced. Later, Jack met Karen Stroh, a divorcée who ran a plant and floral business in the city; the couple married in 1980 in a surprise home ceremony with their friends.
In 1982, Jack and Karen adopted their son Jeremy, and shortly after departed the city, heading north to Sonoma County, where the family settled into a 1920 Craftsman in the heart of Alexander Valley. They adopted their daughter Alexandra, as well as opened their home to three foster children and, later, an exchange student from France, with whom Jack shared a lifelong bond. He continued to commute to Oakland for work until 1997, departing in the early hours, but never missing a soccer game or musical performance, always there cheering on his kids and their accomplishments.
Alexander Valley and the Healdsburg area became an extension of Jack’s family. He served for many years on both the Alexander Valley School Board and the Alexander Valley Association, as well as taking the helm as CEO of the Alliance Medical Center until 2012. In 2014, Jack was appointed to the Board of Directors for the State Compensation Insurance Fund where he thrived, visiting cities throughout California and meeting people from every walk of life.
Jack was a pillar of his community, whether it was pouring wine at the annual AVA picnic, doing the dishes at monthly gatherings of his beloved Chip Lyeth Paper Group, or serving as an acolyte in Sunday Church services. Ever the early riser, he could be found most mornings before dawn with a cup of coffee at Starbucks, waiting for the health club to open at 5:30am. He was a regular volunteer at his Church shower ministry, as well as a companion volunteer (and previous board member) with Hospice, about whose mission of end-of-life care he felt a profound and lifelong connection. Though a dedicated and loyal churchgoer, Jack would always say he was not religious, simply spiritual. He lived a life of kindness, spirituality, patience, and humor – lots of humor.
Jack passed peacefully, at his home in Healdsburg, California, surrounded by family. He is preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Karen (d. 2021) and his first wife, Michele (d. 2001). He is survived by his children, Joffrey Neureuter, Megan (Solomon) Neureuter, Jeremy Neureuter, Alexandra (Peter) Brown, and Hillary (John) Chandler; grandchildren Amara, Faven, Sienna, Milen, and Destin; his “French daughter,” Valérie Bernard; and his brother, Gary, and sister, Jill, and their children.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Healdsburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack’s memory to Providence Hospice Foundation Sonoma County, and to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Dad would also encourage you to go out and volunteer within your community.
And if you should ever meet the Pope, tell him the Holy Father’s brother sent you.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
