John "Jack" B. Mears

John "Jack" B. Mears, 76, Bismarck, passed away on June 2, 2024.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30 PM, Friday, June 7, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 7:00-8:00 PM, Thursday, June 6, at Parkway Funeral Service.

Jack was born in Omaha, NE to Irvin and Alpha (Fraiser) Mears. When he was nine, his family moved to Newport Beach, California.  After graduating from Corona Del Mar High School, Jack joined the Army in 1967, serving four years before being honorably discharged.

At age 22, Jack had an accident and lost his leg. Once recovered, he attended the University of Nebraska before becoming a police officer. Later he moved to Minnesota and started his own security business.

In 1976 and 1978, Jack welcomed his two children into his life, Amy and Brice respectively. He met Lila Raile in Detroit Lakes in 1983 and they were married on October 17, 1986.

In 1991, Jack sold his business and he and Lila moved to Bismarck. He worked for the State of ND as a security officer, volunteered for Great Plains mentoring new students on prothesis and had been the general manager of Top Hat Limousine for about ten years.

In 2013, Jack was diagnosed with cancer. This is when he fully retired. Jack enjoyed woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren. In 2016, Lila’s job took her and Jack to Louisiana until February of 2019, when they moved back to North Dakota. Jacks’ cancer came back in 2020, Lila cared for him for three years before he moved into the Ava Maria nursing home in Jamestown. 

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lila; daughter, Amy (Joseph) Hoffman; son, Brice (Jordyn); grandchildren, Mason Hoffman, Jack Mears, Nicholas Hoffman, Nolyn Mears and Piper Mears; brother, Fred Mears; sister-in-law, Judy; and step-son, Bill Spry, numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Richard (Donna), Avis (Harold) Vanderpool, Robert (Marge), Bill, Jim (Paula) and sister-in-law, Janet Mears.