Feb. 15, 1925 — Feb. 16, 2008

Jack Pyburn, 83, of Albany died Saturday at his home.

He was born in Albany, the son of C. A. “Pete” and Vida (White) Pyburn. Jack attended Central School and Albany Union High School.

In December 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy. After boot camp, he was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Newport, R.I. He served with the Fleet Marines as a medic, on the New Hebrides Islands and on Guam, when they were clearing the jungle to build a hospital. After the hospital was built, he was a corpsman in the surgery ward. After being discharged in February 1946, he went to work for Snow Peak Dairy.

Jack and Barbara Dennies of Newport, R.I., were married in Albany on Nov. 1, 1946.

Jack loved the outdoors, including fishing, hunting and camping with his family. During the 1960s, he started water skiing. Not only did he teach his family and friends, but a lot of the young people that were down at the river.

In the early 1960s, he left Snow Peak Dairy and began his career as a builder and remodeler. He remodeled a large part of the businesses and homes in and around the Albany area. His other “office” was Pop’s Café, where he could be found every morning for his famous pancake. The business grew and later became Pyburn and Sons. Two of the boys, Rick and Pete, joined the business, and grandson Matt has also joined the family business. The third son, Robert, went into home design and does a lot of plans for the business.

Jack was a member of the Elks Lodge and was Scout Master for the Elks Troop for a few years. He also belonged to the American Legion and was president of the home builders.

Jack is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara, of Albany; children Richard, Robert, and Pete and wife Margaret, all of Albany, and Gail of Hilo, Hawaii; grandchildren Melissa Parr of Scio, Allison of California, and Matthew, Samantha and Jackson of Albany; and great-grandchild Haley of Hawaii. His parents preceded him in death, as did a brother, Donald.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Fisher Funeral Home. Following the service, friends are invited to a reception at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.

Memorials to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association can be made in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.

fisherfuneralhome.com).