Ernest Howard Dancer (Jack)

Werner, ND

1935, 2770, Huron and Presho, SCS-4,
1937, 2770, Huron, SCS-4,

Ernest Howard "Jack" Dancer was born December 11, 1914 to Gaylord and Lois (Lydle) Dancer in Werner, North Dakota, the youngest of 23 children. Jack died Thursday, June 15, 2006 in Pioneer, CA at the age of 91 years.

A couple of resources state that Mr. Dancer worked in the CCC before 1932. This cannot be accurate as the Civilian Conservation Corps began in 1933. District Annuals list Ernest Dancer as a member of the Huron Company in 1935-1937 and contains a Golden Gloves boxing photo of him.

Jack worked at CCC Camp in Huron, South Dakota. He moved to California lived in Modesto for 45 years. Jack married Orpha Hager on September 29, 1939 in Modesto. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and Merchant Marines during WWII. Jack was a supervisor for the National Can Company for 33 years and was a cattle rancher from 1947 until 1977. He was a three-time Golden Gloves champion in the amateur light heavy weight division, once in North Dakota and twice in South Dakota. While in California, he fought in Vallejo, Sacramento, and Oakland.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Stuart and Kathy Dancer of Concord; grandchildren, Robin, Jennifer, Melissa and Joshua; great-grandchildren, Reed and Devon, Nicholis, Daniel, Amy, and Kaitlyn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Orpha Dancer on March 5, 1997 and all of his brothers and sisters.

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