Jack Lane Starkel, of Kennewick, WA, died on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at his place of residence Rosetta Assisted Living Olympia. He was 80. He was born on August 16, 1936 in Ashford, Washington. This is near Mount Rainer, a place he loved and never left his heart. He was the 6th child in a family of seven children born to Ted Starkel and Margaret McCullough Starkel.
Lane as most people knew him, was a very accomplished person. He attended Sunset Elementary School, and then went on to Eatonville High School where he made many life long friends. After graduation in 1955, Lane went on to work in the logging industry along with his bother Bobby, before joining the United States Air Force in 1956 as a Jet Mechanic for the B52 bombers, the most impressive planes of the time. Later in his life he returned to school to earn a diploma from ITT Business School.
This gave Lane his love for fixing things and his thirst to learn new trades. Lane was known for being able to fix things most people could not and also started his large collection of tools. He was truly “A Jack of all Trades”. He mastered everything he learned and taught so many other people along the way.
After the Air Force, Lane went on to work as an Electrician, then for Rohr Aircraft making airplane parts, and Barron Industries as a welder. Lane then went on to become the General Manager and Chairman of the Board for Jose’s Taco Time franchises. The business grew from one store to seven in his time there. This experience lead to his move to Kennewick in 1982, where he opened his own restaurant and created his own brand, Taco Lane.
Wanting to retire he sold his business but could not stay idle for long. He then started an independent sign installation business where he placed real estate signs throughout the tri-cities area for local Realtors.
In 1960 he married Jerry Rabb, and together they had 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. They divorced in 1983 and Jack was re-married in 2002 to Celia Verdugo Acosta, she has 2 children and 1 grandchild.
Lane loved life, people, sports, and spent much of his time traveling, golfing, fishing, visiting with friends, family, and meeting new people along the way. Lane never met a stranger and always took time to talk to someone. He was always willing to help, change a tire for someone along the roadside, feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving, and much more. He was a member of many charitable groups and clubs including the Lions, Eagles, Boy Scouts Leader, to name a few.
He is survived by his wife Celia Starkel, her daughter Karen Herrerra, her son Cesar Herrerra; and her granddaughter Genesis. His three children: Jack (Andrea) Starkel, Sheila (Joe) Scanlan, Ronda Starkel, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother William “Billy” (Alta) Starkel and his sister Sue Nelson-Bottcher, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Memorial Services to honor Jack Lane Starkel were held December 30, 2016 at Hillcrest Memorial Center, Kennewick, Washington. We invite you to share a memory on the hillcrest website (www.hillcrestmemorialcenter.com/m/obituaries/Jack-Starkel/Memories)
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