Jack William Semler

Jack W. Semler, 86, died September 1, 2011.

A native of Yellow Springs, OH, he was the son of John H. Semler and Florence Andrews Semler. In 1950 he married Jean Urbschat, who died in 1957. In 1958 he married Shirley Detrick, a school teacher. He was a veteran of WWII, serving three years in the Army Air Core. He was a graduate of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He worked thirty years for Reliance Electric Company, starting in Ohio, five years in Indiana and was the first management employee assigned to Athens in 1968 as Personnel Manager. He retired in June, 1988.

In his career he was very active in civic affairs. In Ohio he was President of Miami Valley Personnel Association. In Madison, Indiana, he was Treasurer and member of the board of Madison Library. He was on the Board of Directors of the Madison Chamber of Commerce. Here in Athens, he was president and member of the board of Kelly Diversified Workshop and was on the board of directors of Athens Technical College. He was a longtime member of Athens Kiwanis Club, Athens Golden Kiwanis Club and a member of Athens Elk Lodge for 35 years. Jack enjoyed playing golf and was a member of Green Hills County Club for many years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Athens where he was in the Fellowship Sunday School Class.

Survivors include his wife Shirley of 53 years; three sons and daughters in law: John and Tricia Semler of Marietta, William and Loree Semler of Tampa, Florida and James and Julie Semler of Cumming; grandchildren: Susie, John, Caroline, William, Katherine and Sara Semler; brother: Kenneth Semler and sister Marjorie Wix.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 11AM at Lord & Stephens East Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018, www.pdf.org.