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John ‘Jack’ McKain

McKain

John Victor “Jack” McKain, 93, of Mars, formerly of Butler, peacefully passed away while surrounded by his five children and extended family on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at St. John Specialty Care Center.

Born Jan. 7, 1932, in Butler, he was the only child of the late Andrew Charles McKain and Alice Miller McKain. In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Jane “Janie” Niggel McKain, on March 21, 2000. Jack and Janie married on July 28, 1951, and were together for 49 years until her passing.

Jack graduated from Butler High School in 1949 and attended Butler Business School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954 and was stationed in Germany, where he was a corporal in the military police.

He was a hardworking, respected businessman who demonstrated honesty and integrity. In 1948, at the age of 16, he opened his first grocery store at the corner of West North and South Chestnut streets in Butler. Jack owned a few different grocery stores around the city, and he was best known for Jack McKain’s Market at 312 Mercer St., which he operated from 1957 until 1985. The market was highly regarded for its fresh meats, salads, pies and first-rate customer service. He is fondly remembered for giving a customer in financial difficulty his family’s own Thanksgiving turkey right out of the oven!

After closing his grocery store, Jack, a well-known car collector and restorer, followed his automotive passion and went to work at Butler County Motor Company as a new car salesman from 1986 to 1999. While at the local Ford dealership, he earned several sales awards from Ford Motor Company.

Jack was known as an avid NASCAR and dirt track race fan, and was a sponsor for many years. He was also an accomplished collector and restorer of 1960s and ’70s muscle cars, a hobby that carried over into the lives of his sons, who were all involved in the hobby with him. In addition, he was extremely interested in airplanes and history.

Jack was a member of All Saints Parish, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, where he served as an usher. He was a director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce in the late 1960s.

He was kind, thoughtful, generous and a friend to everyone he met. Above all, he was a great dad and grandfather and awesome role model.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine Nichter Glasgo McKain, whom he married in November 2007; five children, Jon Kevin “J” (Michelle) McKain of Butler, Judy Lynn Connelly of Butler, JoAnn (Daniel) Nakles of Pittsburgh, James Arden “Jim” (Margie) McKain of Natrona Heights and Jeffry Curtis (Jennifer) McKain, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Danielle (Chris Orth) McKain, Sean (Laura) McKain, Caitlyn Connelly, Maura (Michael) Rethage, Michael (Michaela) Connelly, Hannah (Justin) Lucas, Alyssa (Cassidy) Richardson, Molly (Hugh) McManus, Madeline (Jonathan) Peace, Millie (Shane) Cowoski, Maggie (Richard) Samuels, John “Jack” (Caroline) McKain, Josie McKain and Jensen McKain; and nine great-grandchildren.

MCKAIN — Friends of John Victor “Jack” McKain, who died Sunday, June 22, 2025, will be received from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.

A blessing service will immediately follow at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kevin C. Fazio officiating.

Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by American Legion Post 488 and American Legion Post 642.

Entombment will take place at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations to VNA Hospice, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001, or to the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.

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