John Calhoun

Obituary of John Clay Calhoun

A gentle giant passed at home on September 16, 2016. John was born 8/20/47 in Wendell, Idaho to William and Esther Calhoun. He was their third child. He grew up on Ritchie Rd. traveling some school years to St. Maries, Idaho, White Water, Montana, Roosevelt, Utah and finally Port Orford, Oregon while his mom taught school. When he finished the school year, he’d always head home to Idaho. As a young boy, he worked for Jones and Sandy in Hagerman doing whatever odd jobs he could. When he was 16, he went to Castleford for the summer working for Blicks and John “Pat” Peterson Trucking, bucking hay by hand. There he picked up the name “Jolly Green” from all the green hay leaves stuck to his warm skin. As he grew and was old enough to drive, he worked on the farms for Blicks and later drove truck hauling potato samples from the field to the plant. He was known and loved by potato farmers and sample ladies from Pocatello to Marsing. “Big John” was known for miles as being a friend to many and a hard worker. He also hogged spuds in and out of many spud cellars. He even befriended many of Simplot’s workers helping to get the job done through breakdowns and shift shuffles. In 1971, he married Linda Schnieder Burgess. Linda had a son, Kenny, and a daughter, Tara. Together, John and Linda had two daughters, Stefanie and Emily. John and Linda later divorced. The farm John grew up on was surface irrigated with lots of little ditches. With the loan of Gary Blick’s equipment and business knowledge, John cleaned up the old farm, pushing in the ditches, hauling rock, leveling and putting the whole place under wheel lines in his spare time. It was about this time that M&J Cattle got its start with a few calves on Gary’s ditch banks using Mickey Knight’s old ton truck. The little sideline partnership grew through the years into quite a nice cow/calf operation. It took some time and work but kept the boys out of trouble (most of the time). In 1985, John married Joanie Dobbel Anderson. She had two girls, Kristine and Jami. They continued living in Buhl and farmed the home place in Hagerman. In 1992, they built a home on the home place. Hippie Mickey passed away in 2001. John’s heart began to show wear, but he kept on going. He and Joanie remained partnered with Mickey’s widow, Kathy, for a few more years, but it wasn’t the same. When the little cattle partnership dissolved there was a bull and about 20 brood cows on each side of the river. As John’s heart failed more, he had to sell the cows and quit Blicks, the job he loved. He and Joanie rented out the farm for a couple years but with the onset of dementia added to the weakened heart, they sold the farm and moved to Caldwell. After the move, they got involved with the Treasure Valley Model “A” Club. Touring with the old cars, they met lots of good people. They even bowled for a couple of years. John loved people and was happiest going and doing. John was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brother, Howard of Hagerman; his sister, Sandra Dedera of Spokane, WA; his wife, Joanie of 31 years; daughters: Stefanie (Billy) Gingles of Las Vegas, NV, Emily Calhoun of Pocatello, step daughters: Kristine Howard (Scott) and Jami (GG) Anderson (Jordy LePiane) of Caldwell: granddaughters Taylor Ormsby (Stanley), Samantha LePiane, Olivia Gingles and Kinsey Gingles; grandson, Tanner Howard and great grandsons Wyatt, Quinten and Shane Ormsby of Parma. A special thanks to John “Pat” Peterson and Gary and Barbara Blick for giving John direction, work ethic and confidence in himself. Barbara always said he was one of her boys; the feeling was mutual. A memorial service will be held in Caldwell at Flahiff Funeral Chapel on September 28, 2016 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Idaho Youth Ranch. Service Information
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Memorial Service

Wednesday September 28, 2016 11:00 AM
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