Jack Merlan Day, 86, Iola, died Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Allen County Hospital in Iola.

Jack was born in St. George on Feb. 22, 1926, the seventh of nine children of Paul and Pearl Cooper Day. He grew up in the Topeka area and attended school there. He served in the U.S. Army from June 1944 to June 1946. He was a mechanic. Later he owned the ready mix cement plant in Yates Center and the lumber yard. He enjoyed building race cars and water sports.

Jack and Ina Stapleton were married Jan. 3, 2011 in Miami, Okla. They had their first date 21 years ago and moved to Iola in October 1977 where he lived until his death. The couple loved their horses, trail riding in many states, dancing and working side by side.

He is survived by his wife, Ina, of the home; his children by two former marriages, Kathy Day, Topeka, Sheila Musil, Eskridge, Mike Day, Yates Center, Becky Hinshaw, Neodesha; two stepdaughters of his second wife Joan, Terry Black and Sue Vernon, Yates Center; Ina’s children Phyllis Tidd, Chanute, David Tidd, Iola, Darin Tidd, Neosho Falls; 29 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by a son, John Day, in 2004.

Services were held Wednesday, June 27, at Calvary Episcopal Church, Yates Center. Interment at Yates Center Cemetery followed.