Jack E. (Jes) Strimple (84), beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother, passed away peacefully in his Winchester home on July 18, 2025. He was born in Philadelphia on January 24, 1941, and attended Lincoln High School and Temple University. Jack met his wife Cathy (Kurz) when they were both employed at Harleysville Insurance. They moved to Winchester, shortly after which Jack launched a lifelong career as a real estate broker and appraiser.
Jack had an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. As a young child, his first money-making venture involved retrieving coins that fell through pavement grates near his home – a trick taught to him by his grandfather that involved putting chewing gum on a long stick and pulling the money back up through the slots. He launched many other enterprises over the course of his life, including selling bumper stickers and watches by mail and running various apartment and mobile home locations around Winchester. For a time, he taught courses in real estate at Laurel Community College.
One of the greatest pleasures of Jack’s life was fishing – no matter if it was in the ocean, a river, a stream, a pond and yes, a puddle or two. He often took Cathy and his children to Chincoteaque Island, where they rented boats and spent the entire day on the water.
Being on and around the water was a theme throughout Jack’s life. After college, he joined the Coast Guard Reserve. Attempts to make service life more enjoyable usually involved pulling practical jokes. During his service on one ship, Jack and his fellow “Coasties” decided to paint a large green shamrock on the smokestack. Fortunately, the captain was Irish, and didn’t mind the new seaworthy decoration. Later in life, Jack and Cathy traveled and one of their favorite ways of seeing the world was by cruise ship.
Playing cards was another passion of Jack’s. Poker and Setback games with a regular and committed group of guys were a frequent occurrence (sometimes with multiple games happening in the same week!). Jack enjoyed trips to Atlantic City with his dad or friends, where he would try his luck at Blackjack, and occasionally, the slot machines. Very often, he would bring home a casino token for his children’s collections.
Jack was also a collector, and he had a keen interest in the Civil War, which prompted family trips to watch reenactments, going to historic sites like Gettysburg, and detecting in Northern Virginia for bullets, buttons, buckles and other regalia. Jack also appreciated art, antiques, history and old coins. He would often stop at flea markets and antique stores in search of hidden treasures.
Throughout his life, Jack cultivated his deep love for music. As a young man, he taught himself to play the guitar and learned to repair a variety of instruments. He taught music while attending Temple University. In addition to concerts and other musical events, Jack and Cathy attended many plays and other live performances together, including those at Shenandoah University Conservatory.
Jack had a soft heart for all sorts of critters – likely fueled by taking care of chickens at his grandparent’s house and raising his pet rabbit, Fido. Over the years, his family provided a home to innumerable hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, bunnies and sun turtles. He would stand patiently in the backyard waiting for chipmunks to come out and feed them peanuts. He enjoyed spotting squirrels, rabbits, birds and other animals as they scampered or flew by. His love of nature translated to many hikes in and around the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sky Meadows, Blandy Farms and traversing the Skyline Drive.
Jack was a longtime member of the Elks Club and Issac Walton. He always had a heart for helping others and was instrumental in fundraising for the creation of the Youth Development Center and served on the endowment committee of Northwestern Works. He was also named a local Realtor of the Year.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John (Jackie) and Lillian. Jack is survived by his wife of 58 years, Cathy; children Laura (Drew) and Tom (Lisa), his granddaughters Anya, Vika and Joy, his brother Robert (Barbara), a niece and several nephews.
Jack’s family extends its deepest appreciation to the numerous friends who stayed in touch during his time in hospice. He greatly valued those relationships – the visits and calls sustained him in the last months of his life. The family also thanks the professionals of Blue Ridge Hospice who attended to Jack over the past nine months, ensuring that he had exemplary care.
A private family burial will be held on a future date.
Personal condolences can be sent to Cathy Strimple, 940 Buckner Drive, Winchester VA, 22601. Donations are appreciated in lieu of flowers to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Winchester VA, 22601.
