Jack H. Metcalf went home to the Lord on March 15, 2007.

He was born Nov. 30, 1927, the fourth child of John and Eunice (Grannis) Metcalf in Marysville.

At 6 months old, his family floated their one-room cabin across the bay to the beach near Langley on Whidbey Island. He became an avid hunter and fisherman, and even at 8 years old supplied rabbits for the family table during the Depression. He attended school at Langley until he was 16, when he took early admission to the University of Washington.

His college was interrupted by a stint in the Army. At age 19, he served two summers in Alaska with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a skipper of a patrol boat with U.S. Marshall authority. In 1951, Jack graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelor’s degree in education. Doing post-graduate work at the University of Washington in 1966, he earned an additional degree in history. He taught math and history for the Everett School District for nearly 30 years.

Jack married his high school sweetheart, Norma Grant, in 1948. They lived in Mukilteo where they raised their four daughters. He enjoyed many family camping trips with their horses and spent summers commercial fishing, living on the beach near Langley where he was raised.

In 1974, Jack moved the Metcalfs back to the family property on Whidbey Island. There he built the log home that he and his wife later opened to the public as a bed and breakfast. He was a dedicated member of Kiwanis for nearly 40 years.

He began his political career in state government, serving as a Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives (1960-1964) and later the Washington State Senate (1968-1974 and 1980-1992). He was chairman of the Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee between 1988 and 1992, and was responsible for the creation of Washington State’s recycling program. Often described as a political conservative, he was concerned with a wide range of legislative issues.

In 1994, Jack was elected to the United States Congress as a signer of The Contract with America. He served as a member of the House Banking, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science committees. He was also on subcommittees for Ground Transportation, Aviation, Financial Institutions and International Monetary Policy. A longtime advocate for the U.S. military and military personnel, he pursued investigations into the origins of Gulf War illnesses, sought funding to assist military families in Washington State, and in 1997 introduced the Robert Stodola Veterans Assistance Act to increase funding for the homeless veterans programs.

As chair of the Republican Housing Opportunity Caucus, he supported the low income housing tax credit program to encourage development of affordable homes. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, he provided funding for key priorities throughout the state of Washington, including the Peace Arch border crossing, safety improvements at the Deception Pass Bridge, and tens of millions of dollars in freight mobility projects to ensure the movement of cargo throughout the state.

As a testament to his bi-partisan work, he partnered with Sen. Patty Murray in 1997, to protect the marine waters of Washington State by forming the Murray-Metcalf Northwest Straits Citizens Advisory Commission. The commission led to the creation by Congress of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative in 1998.

An outspoken supporter of congressional term limits, he retired from the House of Representatives in 2000, after serving three terms. He was honored to have served the citizens of Washington and loved his years in public service.

Jack was an unassuming man of integrity who always followed his convictions with fervor. He never hesitated to stand alone on issues he viewed as right. He was a wonderful husband and a fun-loving father. One of his favorite Bible verses and constant guides was Luke 9:23: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

His last years were marked by a rapid decline due to Alzheimer’s disease, and his death is both a loss and a blessing for his family and friends.

Jack leaves behind his beloved wife, Norma, of 58 years; his daughters and their families: Marta (Rob) Cahill, grandchildren Molly, Kevin, Kelsey, and Brian, from Arlington, Va.; Gayle Metcalf, from Hamilton, Wash.; Lea (Dennis) Headley, grandchildren Rachel (Jay) Franklin and Ross (Folake) Kellogg, great-grandchildren Ruth and Naomi Kellogg, from Wenatchee; Ann (Dave) Bowman, grandchildren Becca, Corianne, Ken and Lanh Bowman, from Yakima; his brother George Metcalf and sister Evelyn McDonald. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Louise Smith and Kay Metcalf.

A memorial for Jack will be held at the South Whidbey Assembly of God, 5373 Maxwelton Road, Langley, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31, with a reception following across the street at the intermediate school.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Kiwanis, PO Box 153, Langley, WA 98260; Alzheimer’s Association, 12721 30th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125; South Whidbey Historical Society, PO Box 612, Langley, WA 98260.