Jack Leonard Ortmeyer
November 18, 1943 – June 20, 2024
Jack Leonard Ortmeyer was born on November 18, 1943 in Omaha NE. Jack was the son of Quirin (Jack) and Lenore Mathiesen Ortmeyer. He grew up in Blair NE, where he attended grade school and lived with his family to care for his ailing grandmother. After her passing, Jack and his family returned to Omaha where he attended Central High School, being a member of the football and diving team, and graduated in the class of 1961. After graduating, he entered the US Navy and was commissioned as a plane captain on the USS Kittyhawk carrier and got to see the world. After his 3 years of service, he moved back to Omaha where he became an electrician and member of IBEW LU 22 in July 1968, which he was recently honored with his 55th year pin.
Jack married the love of his life, Judy Zegers, on August 31st 1968, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Elgin, NE. Together they built a life full of love and devotion. Throughout their journey together, Jack and Judy nurtured a treasure trove of stories and memories over 55 years filled with love and laughter. Their marriage was a testament to their unwavering commitment to each other, weathering life’s challenges with grace and resilience.
As a dedicated father, Jack embraced his role with wholehearted devotion. He nurtured and guided his children—Jeffery, Jennifer, Jake, and Jed—with a blend of wisdom, discipline, and encouragement. Jack’s presence in their lives was a steady source of support, always offering guidance and ready to celebrate their accomplishments. Whether attending countless school events, cheering from the sidelines at sports games, standing loud and proud at the hockey rink, or providing advice during pivotal moments, Jack’s love for his children shone brightly in every interaction.
In his free time, Jack loved all sports, especially being involved in fishing, baseball, and hockey. We can’t forget, that his enjoyment at the casino after retirement was amongst the hobbies… oh and a good cigar. Jack was a member of Omaha Bass Club since 1977, he enjoyed the competitive fishing, earning him many titles such as Mr. Bass and Big Bass. His love of baseball led him to coaching youth at Holy Cross for many years. As far as hockey goes, Jack could talk about it forever. He loved coaching the sport, watching his kids play, and ultimately his grandsons as well. Jack would do anything for the sport of hockey. That often included sharpening skates with his pocket knife, getting on the ice in his cowboy boots to help coach, breaking into the rink if the employee didn’t show up to open, or driving anybody and everybody to tournaments that needed a ride, in rain, shine, blizzards, or closed roads… everyone knew he would get them there.
He was known for his big personality, his boisterous voice, and you always knew where you stood with him whether he agreed with you or not.
Above all, Jack cherished spending time with his family. He was a proud and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, and coach.
Jack is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his children, Jeffery, Jennifer, Jake [Christen], Jed [Maggie], and Chad (billet son); his grandchildren, Julia, Madison, Jamison, Tova, Dax, Parker, and Kennedy; and many other relatives and friends who will miss him dearly.
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VISITATION: Tuesday, June 25th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, June 26th at 10:30am at St. Patrick Church, 20500 W. Maple Rd. in Elkhorn. Graveside Service: Wednesday, 2:30pm at Omaha National Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flower, memorials will be directed by the family.
To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service, Mass, and Graveside Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
27 Comments
There are Too many fun and great memories to list will remember your bear hugs your love of cooking and spirit for fun! RIP Jack. Will miss you
So sorry to hear of Jack’s passing, thinking of you all at this difficult time.
I had the pleasure of working with Jack many times throughout my career, fishing with Jack for years and enjoying his stories. He was never afraid to say what he thought and was always there to help if needed. He will be missed at the retired members events Jack but will never be forgotten. My very sincere sympathy goes out to all of your family.
So sorry to hear of his passing. You have great memories to share of his life!!!
Sending our condolences to Judy and the Ortmeyer family. Jack was one of a kind for sure. Always the supportive husband, family and friends kind of guy. Our family have been reminiscing our fun get togethers we had when the kids were young. May he rest in peace.
We can not express our sorrow. Jack was a great friend and unselfishly took in our son for 2 years so he could play the game he loved. R.I.P. old friend.
So sorry. Jack, I, and the boys made a number of hockey trips. So many great memories. He will be greatly missed.
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Coach Jack. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. His dedication to hockey and his impact on so many players’ lives will always be remembered. So many core memories with coach.
Steve Jasa
A sad day for us. Ort was a good guy. Many hockey stories and I even saw him at the casino and bs’d for a while. Rest in peace and our love to Judy and the family.
My stay in Omaha was short but my friendship with Jack was life long. We didn’t see each other all that often but when we did it was like a day hadn’t passed. Motto McLean introduced me to Jack in the late 80’s, Motto and Jack are two of the greatest guys and most colorful characters I ever met, and trust me, my life has not been short of colorful characters! My god were they fun to be around, I can’t think of many things I enjoyed more than listening to Motto tell stories and arguing with Jack about anything and everything! The times I’ve had with people like Motto and Jack are the memories that put a smile on my face, warms my heart, and makes every second of life worth living, I know I speak for many who will miss Jack in the same way, guys like Jack Ortmeyer are simply irreplaceable. My condolences to his wonderful family.
I remember well sitting with Jack on the bleachers at Holy Cross Field after baseball practice with the boys. Those were special days.
Jack was one of my first Journeyman I got to work with when I got into the trade. He was such a character! I enjoyed working with him so much. He was a great teacher and the stories were endless. I remember setting my hard hat on the break table when we first started working together. I didn’t know that was an unwritten rule not to do that. Jack promptly chucked it off the table! It took me a month but Jack did the same thing. I tossed his hard hat as far as I could. Jack said “you got me kid”! We could write a novel with all these stories. I was fortunate to catch up with Jack this year at the rink. He was still the same after retirement! Loud and proud, cheering on the OJL teams and Lancers. Such a great guy who will truly be missed. Sending love from the Preble family to all of his family!
Judy, Jed, Jake, Jennifer and Jeff – Please accept my deepest condolences. Big Jack was so proud of you all, and he was always eager to tell everyone just how proud he was! I’ve been running through countless memories in my mind over the last few days, and there are far too many to even begin to list here. (Although, I will say a surprisingly large number of those memories involve Jack giving me tips for throwing or hitting a curve ball – even years after I was done playing baseball.) I will always be grateful to Jack for cheering me on the baseball field, giving me baseball and life advice, feeding me, opening his home to me, and treating me like part of the family. Rest easy, Big Jack. You will be greatly missed.
Sorry for your loss. Was reminiscing not too long ago about a few hockey travel trips as a kid, Des Moines, Colorado etc. and was remembering Jack, how he’d make me laugh, be kind and tell it like it was. May he rest in Peace.
A big man with a big heart and big dreams.. I met Jack while coaching his two youngest sons Jake and Jed and their teammates on the Junior Lancers. I coached with him for three seasons. It was Jack’s dream the local Omaha boys could one day skate with the Omaha Lancers and beyond. While many told him his dreams were against all odds, his Nebraska upbringing and Cornhusker attitude would have none of it. He had a two word answer for all the doubters, “bet me?” His sons did play for the Lancers and beyond, his daughter Jenny has a budding, soon to be collegiate hockey player in her own right and his son Jeff is in management for the largest landscape firm in the United States. You and your incredible wife Judy won the bet Jack. The Ortmeyer family have been friends and an inspiration to my family for over 30 years. I can’t thank them enough. God Bless to all.
So sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. Remember you, Judy and your family in this time of sorry..
Sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. Our sincere condolences to you and your family
So sorry to hear this. I lost my pops about ten years ago so i know how you’re feeling. Keep hold of those good memories that you have from all the years you two had together. He sounds like a hell of a dad, husband and grandpa.
Love and sympathies to all the family!
So very sorry to hear of your family’s loss. Jack was a wonderful man. Over the years our family came to know him at the ice rink. Jack was always entertaining (especially some of his fish and hockey stories) and was so proud of his family. He will be missed!
I’m always up for a good argument, and Jack, you never disappointed. To be honest, you drove me crazy at first. As I got to know you better (and listened instead of trying to “gotcha”) I realized that there was a lot of thought and feeling behind that 1 million percent sure exterior.
One of my favorite memories was lighting off fireworks with you and Isabella. Bella wanted to help, but was fairly young. In your Jack way, you helped me to go with it, but you watched over us. I was amazed by the care and patience that you had with her. It was a side of you that I didn’t get to see much, which made it both surprising and wonderful.
I’ll miss arguing with you, especially when your argument involved zombies and machine guns. But more, I’ll miss the serious, thoughtful conversations that we had on Sunday morning of guys weekend. Rest easy.
Judy and Family, I’m very sorry for your loss. I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
My condolences to a great Omaha family. Jake and Jed thank you for always being so good to me. You clearly were raised well. I am sorry for your loss.
Please accept my condolences. I will ask a dear friend, Father Jean Zotoglo, to offer a Mass for Jack in his parish in Tokpli, Togo.
How astonishing to learn that Fr. Garyin celebrating Jack’s Funeral and burial., was conducting services for the husband of my classmate. You are in my prayers.
Don
So sorry for your loss Judy and your kids lost in. Your grandkids ilost. Where did the years go? They go by too quickly doesn’t see my ever watched your kids. They were so little t
Judy children grandchildren so sorry for your loss. Where did the years go by hard to believe I used to watch your kids again my deepest sympathy to all of you, Sandy Felici.
I have known the Ortmeyer family for 45 years. I played hockey against Jake and Jed in our younger travel years as well as spent time at Omaha Parks & Rec’s camps with them. I learned a lot about hockey there, but a lot more about family from the Ortmeyers’. Years later, when I was 16 years old, Jack called me to try to recruit me to come play in Omaha. I turned him down itially as we had tried that and were shot down by Omaha and Sioux City’s hockey boards when I was 10 and tried to come play here. Jack never knew the word no and said, “you’ll be staying with me and the family, so figure it out and get your A** down here”. Needless to say, the rest is history. I was an honorary Ortmeyer for 2 years, but that family has left a lifetime of impressions on me as a man, a player, and most importantly as a family. Thank you, Jack. You’re the best!
We are so sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. We met through youth hockey and our children became friends. We have many fun memories of those years. Sending our thoughts and prayers to you all.🙏
We are so very sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. We. Got to know you all through youth hockey. Our children became friends and we had some fun times back then. We all extend our deepest condolences to the family.
Kathy, Martin, Jenefer and J.J.
Our sincere condolences to the Ortmeyer family. Like many others we met through hockey when our sons were young. Jack and the entire family were a wonderful influence. It was such a coincidence for our son, Nick to meet Jack and his grandson In Washingon state at the ice rink many years after we moved away from Omaha. He will be missed by so many. We are so fortunate to have known him.
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