Brothers and Sisters,

I hope this article finds you enjoying the change in the weather and gearing up for the holidays. If you are looking for work, please make sure that you are on the Out of Work List.  I would like to remind you that the Local 1237 Christmas Meeting will be held here in the hall on December 3, 2024, at 6:00 pm. If you plan on attending, please call and rsvp to Junnie or Annette at (916)393-2742.

It is with a heavy heart that I let you know that John “Jack” Simas passed away on November 11, 2024. I have attached Jack’s obituary at the bottom for you to get to know who Jack was. Jack Simas along with his brothers Robert, Dave, and Ken ran Simas Floors when I was hired by Jack and Field Superintendent Doug Johnson in 1990 as a warehouseman. I learned about what I thought would be a summer job from my friend Darin “Bubba” Meir. I ended up working for the Simas Family for over 14 years. To say that they gave me a start in the flooring industry would be an understatement. All the Simas brothers taught me something about floor covering industry and life skills that every young man should know. 

When I first met Jack, he was like no one I had ever met, and I was a little scared of him. With his quick wit and sharp sense of humor I quickly learned that if I kept my head down and worked hard, I would still be ridiculed by Jack. Some of my favorite things he would say to me were “I was watching you and had to line you up with that pole to see if you were moving”, if I was standing with a group “one grenade and I could get the whole bunch of you”, “take my truck and gas it up and check the earl” the first time I ask him “what’s the earl?” he said “come on man, it’s the earl!”. That was one of his favorite things to say, “come on man!” it didn’t matter what you said to Jack 9 times out of 10 his response would be “come on man” or “shake yourself” was another response that made me laugh. 

As the “warehouse kid” I spent many Saturdays at Jack and Glenda’s (Mrs. Simas) doing yard work with Jack and sometimes his father in-law Al. We cut wood for the winter, planted flowers along the drive to the house and even helped put bay windows in the front of the house. In 2004 Simas Floors made the decision to leave the union, and as a union installer I made the decision to stay with the union. When I went to turn in my gas card and truck keys I told Jack thank you for everything but I needed to think of my family and my future, Jack replied that “ I guess I didn’t teach you how to be loyal, but I taught you to put your family first” He made me promise that if they had a change of heart and decided to get back into the union that I would come back and work for him. 

34 years later I’m still in the industry and what I thought was going to be a summer job turned into a career. To say I owe Jack for my start is an understatement, he not only helped mold me, but he helped me to understand that working hard and taking care of your family is the most important thing in life. When I became the Business Rep in 2014, Jack called me and said, “congratulations I know you will represent the men well, and if they fire you, you can come back, the toilets haven’t sparkled and shined since you left”. Thank you, Jack, I will forever be the kid you took a chance on.

-Randy Rojas

John “Jack” Simas

1935 – 2024

John Simas Obituary

John ‘Jack’ Simas
October 19, 1935 – November 11, 2024

Wilton, California – John ‘Jack’ Simas, 89, passed away at his home in Wilton, California on November 11, 2024. Jack was born in Ione, California on October 19, 1935 to John Thomas Simas and Irene Ann Allen. He served in the US Army at Fort Hood, Washington. Jack married Glenda L. Walton on May 21, 1955, and was married 69 years.

Jack and his brothers owned Simas Floor Company. He continued stopping by the shop until he was 84.

Jack had a rich, fulfilling life centered around family, home, and community. Living in Wilton for 58 years, he made their house a home. Gardening year-round and sharing the fruits of his labor with others. On Saturdays he wore overalls and a t-shirt while working on his property.

Jack was a deeply beloved husband, dad, grandpa and Papap to his family. He was a rock to many and a character to all!

He is survived by his wife, Glenda, and four children, Larry Simas, Joan (Tylen) Kattenhorn and sons, Tanner and Samuel (Lindsay); Michele Simas and sons, Johnathan, Christian, Julian; Scott (Tracey) Simas and their children, Austin (Mia), Taylor, Cooper (Berkeley), Cannon, Sophie; three great-grandchildren and brother, Ken Simas.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, John and Irene Simas and siblings, Allen, Robert, William, Marian, Margaret, and David.

The celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8925 Vintage Park Drive, Sacramento Luncheon Reception to follow.