John Jay VanEssen, 95

John Jay VanEssen, 95, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Saturday, May 11, 2019.

Private family services will be held later.

John was born on October 13, 1923, in Pasadena, Calif., and he graduated from high school in Tujunga, Calif. He served with the U.S. Army in World War II, in the Philippines and graduated from the University of Southern California in 1952, using the GI Bill.

John taught school in Ridgecrest, Calif., for 28 years and then was a long-haul truck driver for eight years. He retired in 2013, as a federal park ranger, in Death Valley, Calif. He enjoyed fishing in the High Sierras and in 1963 drive in a 1934 Ford to Alaska.

On April 12, 1942, he and Alice Burns were married in Tujunga, Calif. They moved to Sagle, Idaho in 2013.

He is survived by his wife, of 77 years, Alice VanEssen in Sagle; two sons, Leonard VanEssen in Texas; and John VanEssen Jr. in Sagle. Also surviving are four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Roland; and a sister, Margaret.

Family and friends are invited to sign John’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com.

Final arrangements are being handled by Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.