Nenana community gathers to celebrate the life of Jack Coghill

NENANA –– The solemn sounds of a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” filled the Nenana Public School gymnasium as the American flag-draped casket of former lieutenant governor and state Sen. John “Jack” Coghill was escorted in by a group of his grandsons. More than a hundred family, friends, community members and political dignitaries gathered Saturday afternoon to pay their respects to a pioneer of Alaskan politics.

"When I thought of where to do this, I knew it had to be Nenana. It couldn't be anywhere else," said North Pole Sen. John Coghill. "It's sober, but it's not sad. It's Dad."

As John spoke of his father, he chronicled a life of service to family, community, state and country, while a slideshow flipped through photos of Jack through the years.

When asked about a favorite memory of his father, Jack's son Jerry Coghill said there were too many to count.

"I don't even know. Like my brother John was saying, I'm one of the quiet ones," Jerry said. "Growing up in Nenana was good because Dad taught us how to be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. We were all helping him out all the time with this and that. He was very involved."

In memories shared of Jack Coghill, his dedication to community shone through in the recollections of many.

Gary and Christine Shield met Jack when they moved to Nenana 34 years ago. The Shields were next-door neighbors of Jack and his family for years and spoke of his kindness and welcoming nature.

"That's the kind of person he was. He didn't know a stranger," Christine Shields said. "You always felt like you were his only friend. He always made you feel so welcome and so comfortable. Whoever he was with. He was so caring."

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Jack Coghill, left, and Vic Fischer attend the fiscal future conference called by Gov. Bill Walker in Fairbanks. (Dermot Cole / ADN archive 2015)

Wayne McCready and his sister Suzan grew up in Nenana and knew the Coghill family through community events.

"We roamed around his general store when we were all kids," Suzan recalled fondly.

Wayne noted the community celebrations Jack would organize for the town of Nenana.

"The thing I remember about Jack is the Fourth of July celebrations," Wayne said. "There's that big pile of sawdust out there and you go digging for quarters. That was my earliest memory of him. He always looked like he was having so much fun."

As the sun set over the Alaska Range, friends, family and members of the community gathered for food and fellowship at the Nenana Civic Center, sharing a meal and memories of Jack.