Following a courageous battle with brain cancer Jackie Jack Leon Belger 71 died Saturday March 03 2012 at his home. Funeral services was conducted at 2:00 PM Tuesday March 6 2012 at the First Baptist Church of Newberry by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Harmon. Interment with military honors did follow at Newberry Memorial Gardens. Visitation was 6:00 to 8:00 PM Monday at the Whitaker Funeral Home Newberry. He was born in Columbia on September 13 1940 a son of the late William Martin Belger and the late Ethel Middleton Belger. Jack graduated from Lower Richland High School where he was a star athlete and popular student attended Columbia College and completed various courses at the University of South Carolina. Jack served in the SC National Guard and began his career in fiberglass when he went to work for Shakespeare in 1959. After retiring Jack worked with three business partners from Charlotte NC to form Precision Fiberglass in 1981. With Jacks zeal for work he managed grew and eventually sold the business to MacLean Fogg of Mundelein Illinois. He remained with the company serving as a consultant and product developer until 2004. Retirement not being in the Fiberglass Kings vocabulary he continued to pursue his passion in the fiberglass industry by starting another manufacturing company Precision Composites where he worked until his illness in 2010. Jack served on the Piedmont Technical College Foundation Board and was past Treasurer; the Fiberglass Pultrusion Council the Board of Directors of Springfield Place the Newberry County Board of Assessment Appeals and the Newberry College Indian Club Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Newberry Lions Club where he was a Past President. Jack received numerous awards for his hard work including the Jobs Creator Award by former Governor Carroll Campbell and the 2002 Piedmont Technical College Presidential Medallion. Having a passion for athletics Jack was a former high school football official and coached for the Newberry Recreation Department football program. He was a member of The Country Club of Newberry for 36 years and remained an avid golfer. But Popeyes greatest joy was following competitive events with his grandchildren as they played golf football baseball basketball and even piano and dance recitals. Jack was a member of First Baptist Church of Newberry where he was a Deacon and a member of the Fishers of Men Sunday School Class. He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years Bonnie Usher Belger; daughters Tammy (Johnny) Nichols of Newberry and Jackie (Michael) Huggins of Newberry; grandsons Eric S. Davis Chad B. Davis Jack C. Huggins and Ryne N. Huggins; and a granddaughter London E Huggins all of Newberry. He was predeceased by a son Chad William Belger. He is also survived by brothers Martin Belger Billy Belger Rev. Odell Belger (Illa) Doug Belger (Sharon) and a sister Lois Howze (Lawrence) all of Columbia. Jack was very close to and is survived by his mother-in-law Mary Elizabeth Crosland of Latta; brother and sisters in-law James Robert Usher (Joyce) of Dillon Betty (Charles) McDaniel of Lexington and Gladys (Dwight) Bedinger of Latta. He was fortunate to have many nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers will be: Bob Lee David Jenkins David Senn P. K Fuller Eddie McLeod Brent Davis and Doggett Whitaker. Honorary pallbearers will be: Amy Jenkins Judy Jones Tommy Crates Jimmy Crates Employees of Precision Composites Fishers of Men and Ruth Sunday School Classes and Piedmont Technical College Foundation Board Members. The family suggests memorials be made to First Baptist Church 1020 Boundary St. Newberry SC 29108. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home Newberry is assisting the family.