In the early hours of Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, our beloved father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, Jordan Von Tersch, passed away after a courageous fight against cancer. Dad was a very precise and organized man, paying attention to the smallest detail. Thus, he passed away at the age of 90 years, 4 months and 29 days.
On Aug. 26, 1925, he was the first son of 13 children born to Joseph and Mary (Kramer) at the family farm near Ferdinand. He lived and attended schools in the Ferdinand area until he entered the U.S. Army in 1944. He was shipped overseas to the Philippines. At the end of his service he received several medals, including Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Service Star and the Victory Medal. After his discharge, he went back to Ferdinand and spent several years working on the family farm. In 1950, Jordan came to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and launched his career as a carpenter. It was said many times that Jordan was the finest carpenter in the valley. He married Eleanor Anderson on June 5, 1954, and the children born to them consisted of five girls and four boys. After their divorce, his sister introduced him to Rowena Stickler, who became his longtime companion of 35 years.
His hobbies included playing cribbage and card games, especially pinochle at the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Sixth Street Senior Center. As dad was a card shark and usually won, the family joke started years ago when his young granddaughter Meghan asked "Why do you always win? You must have a card up your sleeve." He has gone to play cards with the angels and will bless them with his charm and gentleness forevermore.
He is survived by his sons, David (Barbie) of Aloha, Ore., and Jon (Laura) of Lewiston; daughters Mary Law and Carol Von Tersch, both of Clarkston, Sheryl (Larry) Fowler and Jo Von Tersch (Dave Bromund), both of Lewiston, and Lois Von Tersch of Houston; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Cletus (Carol) Von Tersch; sisters Rose Prier, Jean Castel, Betty Wilkes, Marlene (Bob) Benson, Eileen (Vern) Jefferys and Diane (Don) Thompson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sons Daniel and Michael Von Tersch; sons-in-law Gene Law and Bradley Ewing; grandson Gary Greene (Law); sisters Leona Nuttman, Louise Nuttman, Bernice Taylor and Dorothy Brockman; and brother Clarence Von Tersch.
Jordan was a member of All Saints Catholic Church. A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home. A Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Friday at All Saints Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens.
He had small-town wisdom and a whole lot more. He was not a teller of tall tales, it is the simple truth he brought, and he made extraordinary observations about ordinary things. His one-line zingers will always be remembered and will continue to make us laugh. As Dad would always say, "See you in the funny papers."
