John Nethaniel Ledgerwood Jr. - 1939-2018
John Nathaniel Ledgerwood Jr. was born March 18, 1939, to John and Luella Ledgerwood in McMinnville, Oregon. Jack was the first of four children, and the first of 28 grandchildren. He attended both McMinnville High School and Estacada High School, graduating from the latter in 1957. Both would claim him, and he attended reunions at both schools with many fond friends. After graduating from high school, Jack began working for the U.S. Forest Service, and worked there for many years as a Fire Management Officer. Following his time with the USFS, he worked for the BLM in Alaska.
In 1962, Jack enlisted in the National Guard and served six months active duty at Fort Ord, California, and an additional five years in the Reserve with the Oregon National Guard. Jack was certified as an expert on the M 1 Rifle, the highest of the three marksmanship distinctions. Jack made many friends during his time with the National Guard, most notably his lifelong friend, Gary Sieg, whom he met on the train to basic training in Fort Ord. Gary and his wife, Marquita, would later become the godparents of Jack’s two daughters.
Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman; he owned 10 acres on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, which he referred to as “Fishcamp,” where all were welcome. He was a lifetime member of both the NRA and the Safari Club International. He was a member of the Old Smokeys, an organization of retired USFS fire management professionals.
Jack was a jovial host; many of his friends will remember driving down Highway 101 and, upon seeing a light up at the shop, would go in for a good time “shooting the breeze." Jack had an immensely witty, if sometimes risque, sense of humor, and was a master storyteller. Anyone who knew him could recount dozens of his jokes or stories, so vibrant and colorful was his way of telling them.
Jack was lucky enough to find a woman who shared his love of the outdoors and who could pack out her own caribou. His wife, Pamela, whom he married October 29, 1979, was truly one of his greatest blessings.
In November of 2017, he became a resident of the beautiful Griffin House, an assisted living facility in Tillamook, Oregon. Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14, 2018, after a battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare and aggressive form of Parkinson’s.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Nathaniel Ledgerwood Sr.; and his mother, Luella Ledgerwood. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Ledgerwood; and his two daughters, Holly Jo Hodges M.D. (Ed Hodges) of Eugene, and Heidi King (Josh King), of Seattle, from his first marriage to LaDonna Anderson. He is survived by his three sisters, Margery Earl (Jim Earl), Linda Bennett and Christie Hamilton; as well as his aunt, Ethel Davis. He has four grandchildren, Kenzie and Jaelen Hodges, and Duncan and Emma King. He is survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and an untold multitude of friends.
An intimate family memorial is being planned.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to OHSU’s Parkinson’s Center:
OHSU Foundation
1121 S.W. Salmon St. #100
Portland, OR 97205
Please note “OHSU Parkinson’s Center” on the memo line.
Wherever Jack may be now, his family is hoping it’s not “hotter than a sheriff’s pistol after a three day shootout!”
In 1962, Jack enlisted in the National Guard and served six months active duty at Fort Ord, California, and an additional five years in the Reserve with the Oregon National Guard. Jack was certified as an expert on the M 1 Rifle, the highest of the three marksmanship distinctions. Jack made many friends during his time with the National Guard, most notably his lifelong friend, Gary Sieg, whom he met on the train to basic training in Fort Ord. Gary and his wife, Marquita, would later become the godparents of Jack’s two daughters.
Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman; he owned 10 acres on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, which he referred to as “Fishcamp,” where all were welcome. He was a lifetime member of both the NRA and the Safari Club International. He was a member of the Old Smokeys, an organization of retired USFS fire management professionals.
Jack was a jovial host; many of his friends will remember driving down Highway 101 and, upon seeing a light up at the shop, would go in for a good time “shooting the breeze." Jack had an immensely witty, if sometimes risque, sense of humor, and was a master storyteller. Anyone who knew him could recount dozens of his jokes or stories, so vibrant and colorful was his way of telling them.
Jack was lucky enough to find a woman who shared his love of the outdoors and who could pack out her own caribou. His wife, Pamela, whom he married October 29, 1979, was truly one of his greatest blessings.
In November of 2017, he became a resident of the beautiful Griffin House, an assisted living facility in Tillamook, Oregon. Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14, 2018, after a battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare and aggressive form of Parkinson’s.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Nathaniel Ledgerwood Sr.; and his mother, Luella Ledgerwood. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Ledgerwood; and his two daughters, Holly Jo Hodges M.D. (Ed Hodges) of Eugene, and Heidi King (Josh King), of Seattle, from his first marriage to LaDonna Anderson. He is survived by his three sisters, Margery Earl (Jim Earl), Linda Bennett and Christie Hamilton; as well as his aunt, Ethel Davis. He has four grandchildren, Kenzie and Jaelen Hodges, and Duncan and Emma King. He is survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and an untold multitude of friends.
An intimate family memorial is being planned.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to OHSU’s Parkinson’s Center:
OHSU Foundation
1121 S.W. Salmon St. #100
Portland, OR 97205
Please note “OHSU Parkinson’s Center” on the memo line.
Wherever Jack may be now, his family is hoping it’s not “hotter than a sheriff’s pistol after a three day shootout!”
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