Jack Rader

Jack H. Rader, Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Retired), age 68, ended a 14 year-long courageous and faith-filled battle with multiple cancers on November 25, 2024.

He was born in Española, NM and was raised in Chili, NM and Colleyville, TX. After high school, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving four years as a Machinists Mate on the USS Simon Lake. While homeported in Charleston, SC, he met the love of his life, Kathy (Collins), and they married shortly after in 1978. Following a brief civilian career, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he would serve until retirement as a Munitions Systems Craftsman and Weapons Safety Program Manager including deployments to the Persian Gulf for Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

After his military retirement, Jack and Kathy moved to St. Francis, MN and were active with St. Andrew Catholic Parrish before moving to Waco. They then retired to a small ranch in Axtell, TX where they raised cattle and spent time serving Waco’s St. Louis Catholic Church Parrish. His faith was strong in the Lord and on many occasions, he used his experience and periods of remission to encourage and pray with others who were ill or also fighting cancer. For nearly a decade Jack taught monthly baptism classes. He also served as the Grand Knight for the St. Andrew and St. Louis Parishes and as a fourth-degree member in the Knights of Columbus. Jack was also a Eucharistic minister and Lector.

Jack enjoyed fishing, hunting, shooting, reloading ammo, and cheering on his favorite sports teams (Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins). He was an extroverted individual who never met a stranger. The majority of his conversations revolved around his pride and joy: his wife, children, grandchildren, and dogs especially his new puppy Sandy.

Jack leaves behind his bride of 46 years, Kathy; sons, Jason (Jessica) and Jerrod (Jamie); mother, Virgie (Gene) Hale; sisters, Carol (Jeff) Ashlock, Carol (Kirk) Bailey, Julie (Russ) Caskey, Maria (Larry) Carr, and Kristie (Keith) Hopper; mother-in-law, DeLoris Collins; stepmother, Joanne; grandchildren, Kyndale, Lance, Alyssa, Logan, Nicholas, Haley, Kaitlyn, Elliott, Clark, Claire, Gianna, and Gabriel; and siblings-in-law, Stephen, Patti, Donnie, Laurie Ann, Lisa, Jeff, Chris, Phillip, Thomas, Jennifer, and Jeremy.

He was preceded in death by his father, Don; father-in-law, Lyle Collins; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Collins; and grandson, Thomas.

The family would like to express their gratitude to staffs of Texas Oncology and Providence Hospice for their compassionate care for Jack.