Jack Soetebier remembered 2020

A friend, shining star, and community leader with a positive impact that made the world a better place died on April 21, 2020, in Duluth, Minnesota. 

Jane, Jack and Ginny, August 1972

John “Jack” Soetebier was born on August 26, 1928, in Wakefield, Michigan. Jack proudly served in the US Army during the Korean war.

Jack owned the Patty Cake Shop in Duluth for over 40 years – The Best Bakery Ever! He was an avid pilot, scuba diver, sailor, and all-around adventurer. Jack was a member of the Duluth Keel Club, Apostle Island Yacht Club, and the Duluth Power Squadron, where he served as the Commodore. He was also one of the founders of the Trans Superior Sailboat Race of which he sailed five times and won his class once!

Jack, never gliding, he was always excelling. His immense trophy collection spoke well of his dedication and focus... a one of a kind special individual.

Jack on his lovely Erickson yacht made the cover of Sailing magazine after finishing first in the sought after International Trans Lake Superior Sailboat Race.

Jane and I first met Jack and Ginny Soetebier at Duluth Power Squadron seamanship classes. We attended classes for five years while building our dreamboat Dursmirg. We launched Dursmirg in 1972 and began our maiden voyage.

We were very impressed with this adventuresome couple, and they were impressed with our ambitious five -year boat building project that included three nights a week of night school. A friendship was bonded. That was over half a century ago.

I wrote of Jack and Ginny in Sailing Beyond Lake Superior: Chapter 3, Splash down or the launch;  A very thoughtful friend, Jack Soetebier, showed up with hot pasties (meat pies) that he had made at his bakery in Duluth, Minnesota. We will never forget that timely gesture that helped all of the moving crew pull through. I still think those were the best pasties we have ever had the pleasure to sample.

Our neighbors, John and Barb Williams, threw a surprise farewell party for us shortly before we departed.

Jack and Ginny surprised us with an artfully decorated cake depicting our boat Dursmirg, and a bosum’s chair that saved our voyage countless times.

Jack was a great man who always did his best to be the best.