Porter County Highway Superintendent Jack Jarnecke, one of county government’s most veteran employees, died Saturday after a battle with cancer. He was 72.

“He’s probably the best Porter County ever had,” said North Porter County Commissioner John Evans. “He was the type of person who devoted 100 percent to his job.”

Evans said Jarnecke personally made sure that the snow got plowed and the roads cleared. If all county employees were of Jarnecke’s caliber, Evans said: “We probably could get by with about half as many employees.”

Jarnecke, of Kouts, began working for county government’s highway department in 1958 and became superintendent in 1974. He held onto the job ever since, despite turnover on the board of commissioners.

Just last week, the commissioners reappointed Jarnecke, even though the annual appointment is usually made in January. Evans said at this point, it is too early to discuss his replacement.

Assistant Highway Superinten-dent Al Hoagland has worked with Jarnecke for 23 years. He said Jarnecke seemed the happiest when confronted with challenges.

“I think he took every snow storm as a personal challenge,” he said.

Hoagland said that Jarnecke plowed snow and worked alongside his crew. “He was just an exceptional person to work for and with,” he said. “He was a boss, but he was also out with the men ... That really made a difference to them.”

An obituary follows:

Kouts resident Jack Jarnecke died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003. He was 72.

Born Nov. 30, 1931 in Kouts, he was the son of John and Lucille (Cannon) Jarnecke.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Krug) of Kouts; son Stephen Jarnecke (wife Ruth) of Davenport, Iowa; daughter Margaret (Peggy) Raderstorf of Kouts; five grandchildren Rebecca “Becky” and Miranda Raderstorf, both of Kouts, Karen Raderstorf of Naperville, Ill., Mellisa Jarnecke Zabel (husband Matthew) of Texas, Jason Jarnecke of Missouri, and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Leland “Bing” and Harold “Skeeze.”

Employed by the Porter County Highway Department since Sept. 1, 1958 and superintendent since 1974, he was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kouts, the Northern Indiana Historical Power Association, and several other tractor clubs. He enjoyed restoring antique tractors and attending tractor shows. For years, he had antique tractor plow days on his farm.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 10 a.m. from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kouts with the Rev. Kent Wartick officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Kosanke Funeral Home, 105 E. Indiana, Kouts.

Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Northern Indiana Historical Power Association or to the Porter County Cancer Society, a United Way agency.

Posted 12/22/2003