John James Hockberger, of Boise and Caldwell, died Thursday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 84. The youngest of Anna and Hugh Hockberger's three sons, John was born in Caldwell in October 1923. Hugh had come to Idaho from Chicago to work for the Bureau of Reclamation in 1905 on the construction of the Deer Flat Dam and Reservoir, also known as Lake Lowell. Hugh also homesteaded 23 acres at the south end of the lower reservoir dam in 1911 where John spent his early summers and would eventually return to raise his own family. The death of Hugh in 1934 caused Anna to rent out the farm and move her boys to Oak Park, Illinois where she taught school. Fatherless at age 11, John benefited greatly throughout his early years from the mentoring provided by his brothers, particularly Robert who was six years his senior. John was exposed to the rough and tumble ways of city life while attending Fenwick High School in Oak Park, where disagreements among the boys were settled after class through priest-refereed boxing matches. His senior year he was runner-up high school unlimited weight boxing champion despite carrying only 160 pounds on his 6' 2" frame. John successfully competed for a job as an Andy Frain usher and enjoyed the opportunities to attend theatrical and sporting events that employment provided A good athlete, John went on to make both the freshman football and basketball teams at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. John left college for Officer Candidate School, graduating to become the youngest lieutenant in the Army Quartermaster Corps. He served a tour of duty in the early occupation of Germany as a truck company commander before returning on the GI Bill of Rights to Northwestern where his independent and entrepreneurial nature was reinforced by the anti-monopolistic teachings of economist Corwin Edwards. After graduation from Northwestern and marriage to his boyhood sweetheart, Rosemary, John set out driving a canvas-topped, war-surplus, Willys Jeep on an odyssey from Chicago to Idaho in the midst of the record bad winter of 1949 to pursue his dream of building the 23 acre homestead into a commercial fruit operation. Joined shortly afterward by Rosemary, he added land, planted orchards, built a packing shed, and for many years was a grower-packer of cherries, peaches, pears, and apples while helping to rear their two children. He became an active member of the Idaho Horticulture Society, several agricultural cooperative enterprises, and was a board member of the Mercy Medical Center in Nampa. He was most proud of his 37-year tenure as a director of the Wilder Irrigation District and of his significant role with fellow directors Otis Peterson and Warren Tolmie in competing successfully against the Idaho Power Company on behalf of the Boise Project Board of Control to secure the federal license for the Lucky Peak hydroelectric plant. Revenues from that power plant have helped hold down water delivery costs for patrons of all of the districts affiliated with the Board of Control. In recognition of his long service to irrigators, the Idaho Water Users Association named him to its Hall of Fame in 2005. Following his divorce from Rosemary, John continued to farm full time until marrying Velma Morrison in 1986. The Hockberger and Morrison families had been friends since the Lake Lowell dam building era. After his union with Velma, John gradually reduced his fruit growing activities and downshifted his farming operation so he could have more time to enjoy life and travels with Velma. He served with her on the board of the Harry W. Morrison Foundation. John maintained a good nature and youthful enthusiasm for new ideas throughout his life. Just before his death he had enjoyed a happy winter in the desert sun surrounded by family members including his beloved brother Robert. John is survived by his wife, Velma Morrison, of Boise; his brother Robert Hockberger and sister-in-law Ida Hockberger of Lansing, Illinois; a son, John (Jack) Hockberger, Jr., and daughter-in-law Joanne Rodriguez of Boise; a daughter, Susan Hockberger, son-in-law John Berti, and grandchildren Anna and Carlo Berti of Seattle; and a number of nieces and nephews. A visitation at Summers Funeral Home, 1205 West Bannock Street, Boise is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. Services under the direction of Reverend Steven A. Tollefson are scheduled at the Cathedral of the Rockies for Thursday, April 24 at 11 a.m.. Graveside services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the same day at Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell (with no procession). The family suggests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Hockberger Memorial Fund of the Treasure Valley YMCA, 1050 W. State Street, Boise, ID 83702 for benefit of the new Caldwell YMCA; to the Mountain States Tumor Institute at St. Luke's Boise Medical Center 190 East Bannock Street Boise, ID 83712-9987,
Published in the Idaho Statesman from 4/22/2008 - 4/23/2008.